Robbie Williams surprised fans in Manchester by bringing out Self Esteem as a surprise guest. Check out footage of the moment below.
The gig took place last night (June 11) during the latest show of the singer’s ‘BRITPOP’ UK tour.
Performing at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, the surprise appearance came 15 songs into the stacked 25-song setlist, and saw Sheffield singer and West End star Self Esteem join Williams on stage for a rendition of the classic track ‘Relight My Fire’.
The song was originally released by Dan Hartman in 1979, and found a new wave of popularity when it was covered by Take That in 1993 as part of their ‘Everything Changes’ album – during the time Williams was still in the line-up.
During the show, the cover of the track came after support act The Lottery Winners joined Robbie on stage for renditions of ‘Let Love Be Your Energy’, ‘Sexed Up’ and ‘Candy’.
The band’s frontman Thom Rylance was still on stage playing an acoustic guitar when Williams led a singalong with the crowd for the chorus, and introduced the artist. “Ladies and gentlemen, the very talented, very beautiful, wonderful, Self Esteem,” he said.
Check out the moment below.
“He is funny, self-deprecating, and knows how to work a crowd into a frenzy. And he delivers banger after banger,” one fan shared on X/Twitter. “Self Esteem joined Robbie for ‘Relight my Fire’, and that was my night made. Brilliant,” another added.
“What an entertainer @robbiewilliams is awesome gig last night,” a third shared, while Lottery Winners added: “Manchester, that was truly incredible. Spine tingling. Goosebumps. Best two nights of our lives. Thank you for changing our lives @robbiewilliams. Feel so much love and we are PUMPED”.
Find more fan responses below.
Robbie Williams @TheCoopLive delivered and then some. He is funny, self-deprecating, and knows how to work a crowd into a frenzy. And he delivers banger after banger. Self Esteem joined Robbie for Relight my Fire, and that was my night made. Brilliant. 👏 pic.twitter.com/WRm9ehMrCh
— Glenn Writer ☕ (@Glenn_Writes) June 12, 2025
This is far from the first time that Robbie Williams has invited some surprise guests on his latest run of tour dates. Just last week, his show at London’s Emirates Stadium on Friday night (June 6) saw him joined by all original members of the ‘90s boyband Five, and they launched into a version of the latter’s chart-topper ‘Keep On Movin’’.
The following night (7), Williams played at the same venue again and this time brought out Wiley and Lethal Bizzle. The appearance came just days after the headliner shared a video of himself rapping over the beat to ‘Can’t Touch This’, the new track from Lethal Bizzle, Wiley and Scorcher.
Other surprise guests on the tour have come from former X Factor star Lucy Spraggan, Lulu, and Scottish singer and former Pop Idol finalist Michelle McManus.
The ‘Britpop’ tour will continue tomorrow (13) with the first of two stops in Bath, held at the Royal Crescent venue. Check out a list of remaining shows here and visit here to get any remaining tickets.
Robbie Williams’ ‘BRITPOP’ UK tour dates are:
JUNE
13 – Royal Crescent, Bath – SOLD OUT
14 – Royal Crescent, Bath – SOLD OUT
AUGUST
20 – Come Together Festival, Newcastle
The tour comes as Williams is preparing to release his first studio album in almost a decade, also titled ‘BRITPOP’. Visit here to pre-order. He has already previewed it with the single ‘Rocket’, which was released last month and features guitars from Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.
Recently, the ‘Millenium’ singer spoke to NME at the Ivor Novello Awards, where he picked up the Icon Award for 2025. Reflecting on whether ‘BRITPOP’ will recapture the hedonism of the ‘90s, he said: “If hedonism is Jaffa Cake-based or Cadbury’s Fruit And Nut, then I’m in. Everything else I’ve got to park until I die. If I don’t park it, it’ll kill me.”
Discussing his guitar-dominated new approach, he added: “I was playing it safe and I’ve not been driving my own car. I’ve not had my hands on the wheel through second-thinking myself and guessing what people like. I just wanted to do something that I like.”
