Alex B Cann column - Take That, Damp January! 05/02/26

I loved watching the Take That documentary this week on Netflix. As I spend most of my time at the cinema, reading books, or hosting radio shows, it takes quite a lot to tempt me to watch a series. For instance, I've never seen a single moment of The Traitors and am aware this makes me something of a social pariah. However, the three-part documentary series about the northern lads who conquered the world intrigued me enough to watch, and I'm glad I did.

The original goal was to create a UK version of New Kids On The Block, and with the remaining trio embarking on a new leg of their Circus tour later this year, it feels like a good time to tell the story so far. I was struck by how much the tabloid coverage of Gary Barlow being eclipsed by Robbie Williams and ultimately dropped by his record label took its toll on his mental health, and commend him for speaking about a dark time in his life so candidly. He didn't leave the house for over a year, eating in a bid to become unrecognisable. The band's early songs flopped too, leaving him feeling like he'd let his bandmates down.

Thankfully, that chapter is now firmly behind Barlow, who is a gifted songwriter and comes across as a thoroughly nice bloke. As Williams has recently become the artist with the most number-one albums in UK chart history, it's uncertain whether he will be tempted back to the Take That fold any time soon. For now, they have The Script and Belinda Carlisle joining them for this year's dates, and whether you're a fan or not, this is a fascinating tale of how becoming a household name changes every aspect of your life. It's hard to believe that Patience was released 20 years ago! There's talk of a Spice Girls documentary by the same team next, which will be ace.

Also this week, John Lewis came up with an amusing new term - 'damp January'! This reflects the fact more of us ditched our abstinence halfway through the month, with 12th January, a week before Blue Monday, apparently being the date when most caved. Some statistics - in January 2022, booze sales were 42% lower on average compared to other months of the year. In January 2026, the difference was only around 25%. Argentinian and Chilean wine are booming in particular, and whilst premium non-alcoholic drinks are doing well, a lot of us concluded the relentless cycle of bad news and Peter Mandelson in his pants meant booze was the only answer.

Things have certainly come a long way since the days of Kaliber being the only non-alcoholic brand available at most pubs and supermarkets. Guinness 0% is a cracking alternative, whilst some canned 0% spirits served with a decent mixer would fool all but the biggest connouiseurs. In the mid-90s when I was at university in Liverpool, brightly coloured alcopops like Hooch and Bacardi Breezer were all the rage, and one of my worst life decisions was calling my mother to ask how to get vomit out of a mattress (sorry if you're reading this, mum!). I'm so glad camera phones didn't exist in my student days. Imagine the shame.

Thankfully, the uncool and unwarranted social pressure to drink to excess has largely evaporated, and being sozzled is no longer seen as anything to aspire too, especially when it comes to younger age groups. Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is reportedly not especially keen on the tradition of having an airport beer at all hours, swapping pre-flight pints for matcha at the airport. Manchester Airport Group report matcha sales are up 144% in Manchester, and even more at London Stansted. Sales of face masks at airports are also up 399%. I've not flown anywhere for two years, but I'll definitely be donning a sheet mask to scare my fellow passengers if I manage a break this year! Apparently, a lot of these 'wellness influencer' types get paid a lot more than radio presenters based on their millions of views on TikTok (which I don't understand, as I'm 48), and basically get to try stuff out for free. Where do I sign up?

Still, I get to play songs and talk for a living, so I'll leave the matcha tea drinking classes to it. With Valentine's Day around the corner, I might swap Damp January for Fizz February, and pour a glass of something fortifying. Cheers.