I want you back: Boybands who split up but later reformed

Take That perform on stage during the BBC Children In Need Appeal 2010. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Archive

JLS fans may be devastated that their idols split up today but do not worry, there is hope yet.

Here are four bands who broke up but later reformed.

  • Take That

The break up

Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Jason Orange formed Take That in 1990 but had to wait for a further two years before their breakthrough single It Only Takes a Minute reached number seven in the charts.

In their first stint together they released classics including A Million Love Songs, Could It Be Magic, Everything Changes, Relight My Fire and Back for Good.

However, everything changed in 1995 when Robbie Williams left the group on bad terms.

Barlow, Donald, Owen and Orange continued in Take That, recording the hit Never Forget, but on February 13 1996, much to the devastation of their loyal fans, the band announced they were splitting up.

Jason Orange, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald announcing their split in 1996. Credit: Eamonn Clarke/EMPICS Entertainment

The reunion

Jason Orange; Gary Barlow; Mark Owen; Howard Donald announced their comeback on November 14 2005. Credit: Suzan/EMPICS Entertainment

On November 14 2005, Take That, minus Williams, announced they were going to tour once again.

After the 2006 tour, the four-piece released the album Beautiful World which featured their comeback single Patience.

Shine, I'd Wait for Life, Rule the World and Greatest Day all followed before Williams announced on July 15 2010 he would rejoin Take That ten years after he first left the band.

The original line-up released an album and went on tour before Williams left again - albeit on better terms this time - leaving the other four working on new material.

Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams. Credit: Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment

  • Blue

(Left-Right) Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa in 2001. Credit: Martin Leaver/EMPICS Entertainment

The break up

Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa released their debut single All Rise in 2001 which reached number four in the charts and followed that success with Too Close.

Their debut album, also called All Rise, sold close to two million copies but the band were caught-up in controversy when Ryan said of the September 11 2001 attacks:

The band managed to survive the singer's comments, which led to them losing a record deal in the US, and went on to release the albums One Love and Guilty.

Blue promoting Best of Blue in 2004. Credit: PA Archive

In 2004, the group announced they were going to split and released a Best of Blue album.

The reunion

In April 2009, Blue performed at a festival and announced they were going to release new material but that did not happen for another two years.

Blue celebrate with champagne as they announce their reformation. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Archive

Following in the footsteps of Lulu, Cliff Richard, Sandie Shaw and Bucks Fizz, Blue announced in 2011 that they would represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The band's song I Can finished in a respectable 11th place with 100 points.

Blue appeared on ITV's reality show The Big Reunion and on March 27 2013 told This Morning that they would tour later this year.

  • Boyzone

The break up

(Left-Right) Stephen Gately, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch. Credit: Nick Tansley/EMPICS Entertainment

Louis Walsh was looking to make an Irish Take That when he put Stephen Gately, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch together to form Boyzone.

Despite an embarrassing first television appearance on Ireland's The Late Late Show, where the five danced out of time and did not sing, Boyzone got their first hit with a cover of the Four Seasons' Working My Way Back To You.

Father and Son, Words, When You Say Nothing At All and Baby Can I Hold You all followed as well as a string of sold-out tours.

In 1999, Gately announced that he was gay and Keating released his first solo song When You Say Nothing at All for the film Notting Hill.

Ronan Keating, of Boyzone, performs solo on stage in 1999. Credit: Eamonn McCormack/EMPICS Entertainment

Growing tensions between the band members led to them announcing a break in 2000, where they pursued solo projects.

The reunion

After months of rumours, Keating confirmed Boyzone would return for an appearance on Children in Need in 2007 and a UK and Ireland tour followed in 2008.

Boyzone in 2008. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Archive

In 2009, Gately, 33, died suddenly leading to an outpouring of tributes from his fellow band members and fans across the world.

Keating, Duffy, Graham and Lynch spent the night with Gately's coffin in a church before his funeral and released an album in his memory the following year.

Band members including Ronan Keating carry the coffin of Stephen Gately from the Church of St Laurence O'Toole. Credit: Jeff Moore/Empics Entertainment

The band will release a new album and tour this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band forming.

  • East 17

Brian Harvey (centre) outside Southwark crown court with John Hendy (right) and Terry Coldwell. Credit: Michael Stephens/PA Archive

The break up

East 17 formed in 1991 and enjoyed huge success in the 1990's with a string of top ten hits.

Their first album Walthamstow - which has the postcode E17 - went to number one and featured House of Love and It's Alright.

East 17 got the much-coveted Christmas number one in 1994 with Stay Another Day.

That success was later tarnished in 1997 when Brian Harvey claimed he took 12 ecstasy tablets in one night and said "it's cool to take drugs", which led him being sacked by the band.

The reunion

Band members Tony Mortimer and John Hendy reinstated Harvey in 1998 and renamed the group E-17 but despite the single Each Time reaching number two in the charts, the band was dropped by their label in 1999.

Brian Harvey of E17 on stage in 2006. Credit: Suzan/EMPICS Entertainment

In February 2006, the full group reformed for a one-off performance but split up again straight after the gig apparently due to a fight between Harvey and Mortimer.

Harvey, Coldwell and Hendy continued to perform without Mortimer and played Glastonbury festival in 2009.

A shake-up in 2010 saw Mortimer rejoin the band and Harvey leave and a new East 17 album is due sometime this year.