Drugs made me fat, says Williams

Williams has now conquered his drug problems of the mid-1990s

Singer Robbie Williams has said he only gave up drugs and alcohol because they made him too fat.

In an interview to be broadcast on Christmas Day, Williams, 30, said his addiction made him "blow up to the size of a small aircraft hangar".

Williams spiralled into addiction to cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol after leaving boy band Take That in 1995.

His condition became so bad that Sir Elton John "kidnapped" him and had him admitted to a rehab clinic.

Drugs are not safe, and the risks can be much greater than simply putting on a bit of weight Martin Barnes, DrugScope

Williams tells Real Radio FM: "I'd still be doing it if I could make good judgment calls, and I'd still be doing it if I didn't blow up to the size of an aircraft hangar, you know, because it was a great time.

"Some of the best times in my life happened under the influence of drugs. ... I'm not saying 'go out and do drugs, kids,' but I enjoyed them."

Asked whether he was confident about staying off mind-altering substances, he replied: "No, I'm not confident at all."

Drugs charities criticised Williams for making irresponsible comments.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: "Scare tactics about drugs rarely work but Robbie Williams seems to have gone to the other extreme in underplaying the risks and dangers.

"Robbie Williams's experience of drink and drugs - a multi-millionaire singer with a small army of minders and managers - will be a world apart from the lives of millions of young people.

"Drugs are not safe, and the risks can be much greater than simply putting on a bit of weight."