Williams: 'Death knocked at my door'

Robbie Williams has suggested that his stint in rehab for addiction to painkillers may have saved his life.

The 'Bodies' singer told Stern that he would not have undergone the treatment in 2007 lightly.

Williams said: "Robbie Williams does not go into rehab just if his life gets a bit out of control. It was damn serious.

"Death had to knock on my door to help me with my decision. I'm aware I have a self-destructive character, but does this hold me back from being happy? No."

Earlier this year, Williams's former Take That bandmates admitted that they felt guilty for ignoring their friend's signs of alcohol dependency during his later years with the group.