Mortimer: 'Take That success hard to watch'

Ex-East 17 songwriter Tony Mortimer has admitted that he finds it hard to observe the continued success of his former boyband rivals Take That.

Both groups competed for hits in the mid-1990s but while Take That's 2005 reunion has resulted in two number one albums, East 17's comeback the following year dissolved after a single gig.

Mortimer told The Guardian: "The boys still tour as E-17, singing my old songs. I was angry with them for a long time, especially when we tried to reform and it didn't work out.

"Now I say good luck to them. I've got my own life, I've played good gigs recently, and I'm writing new music, which will be released next year."

He added: "It's hard seeing bands like Take That get big again, though, especially when they're releasing singles with bloody ukuleles all over them.

"We were a big deal in the 1990s. We made great records. It makes me sad that people don't remember."

> Whatever Happened To... East 17?