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THIS COULD BE THE GREATEST DAY OF BARLOW'S LIFE Gary Barlow awarded icelolly.com Celebrity Dad of the Year 2015
TAKE THAT star Gary Barlow has been unveiled as icelolly.com Celebrity Dad of the Year 2015 following an open vote by the British public.
Pipping a host of famous contenders to the post including David Beckham, Simon Cowell and former bandmate Robbie Williams, the 44-year-old - who has three children with wife Dawn - claimed the much-coveted award for the second time, after an earlier triumph in 2012.
Gary, who is currently touring the UK with Howard Donald and Mark Owen, was once again recognised by the British public as the celebrity dad who they feel is doing the best job of raising his children while maintaining a busy career and life in the limelight.
Tom Fletcher, Peter Andre, Rio Ferdinand, Marvin Humes and Prince William completed this year's shortlist.
Speaking of his win, Barlow said: "I'm absolutely made-up to have been voted icelolly.com Celebrity Dad of the Year 2015 and I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me.
"I’ve got to be honest I’m always a bit dubious about awards - The BRITs, Oscars…but icelolly.com Celebrity Dad of the Year get it right, and they’ve got it right twice now. I think 2012 and 2015 in particular the audience has spoken and they know what they want!
Q & A with Celebrity Dad of the Year 2015!
Q: Gary Barlow…
Gary: Yes…
Q: Celebrity Dad 2015…
G: 2015 Yes! Yes!
Q: Of course the first question is, how does it feel to win icelolly.com Celebrity Dad of the Year for the second time?
G: Well it's amazing and I’ve got to be honest, I’m always a bit dubious about awards - The BRITs, Oscars…but icelolly.com Celebrity Dad of the Year get it right, and they’ve got it right twice now. I think 2012 and 2015 in particular the audience has spoken and they know what they want!
Q: So, how will you be celebrating your win?
G: This isn’t a one time celebration this will go on for months I can promise you! Tune into twitter, @garybarlow, as this award will be making a big feature over the next few weeks!
Q: What were your kids' reactions to the fact that you were crowned Icelolly.com’s Celeb Dad?
G: The kids cheered, they love it!
Q: Ha! Do any of your children want to follow in your footsteps when they are older?
G: I think Emily might, she is into music. Dan will sit through a couple of my gigs now, whereas Emily will sit through every one, she is quite happy being there night after night. Daisy loves it too, she loves the musicals, she will sit through all the musicals - so I’m hoping Emily goes into music.
Q: What about while on tour – how do you stay in touch with your kids?
G: Well they come on the road a lot so I get to see them when school’s out which is nice.
Q: What is the best bit for you about being a dad, and what's the most challenging?
G: I love spending as much time as I can with the kids. But, traffic jams and airport security lines have been challenging over the years!
Q: Did the way you were raised inspire you in the way you bring up your children? What skills did you learn from your mum and dad?
G: It’s a happy house ours is, hope we are not too strict, Dawn is definitely stricter than me, so I get a bit of a telling off for that every now and again but I do believe you can get great things out of your kids for a Cornetto! [he jokes] It’s a noisy house but we try and support and we want them to be happy.
Q: Was that the same for you when you were growing up?
G: Yeah, I never argued with my mum and dad, they were one of those couples that were just very laid back, my dad was extremely laid back, just a free house really.
Q: Has there been any banter between Robbie and the other Take That dads. Do you think Robbie will challenge you next year?
G: There has been banter between me and the past couple of winners, I had a bit of banter with Tom Fletcher from McBusted who won last year, a bit of Mo Farah banter because he won the year before, and I always have a bit with Peter Andre because he has won it three years running. He has had the hat trick, I’m on my second.
Q: Is that what you are setting your sights on?
G: I think it's important to have goals in life, it’s important to just keep things that are just about out of arms reach. I’m not even going to put it out there as I’ve just won it for a second time, I cant tempt fate and think of the hat trick just yet!