Robbie Williams says Gary Barlow is his rock.

The singer always calls up his Take That bandmate in a crisis and admits his reliable friend Gary has got him out of many tough situations over the years.

He told the Daily Star newspaper: ''I always call Gary - he can sort out any personal dilemma. Oh my lord, he's like a Swiss army knife. I needed something desperately the other night, I can't say what, but he sorted it out in a matter of minutes.''

But the 39-year-old star would turn to his pal Sir Elton John - who was responsible for convincing him to go to rehab while he was still in Take That - instead if he wanted someone with a more nurturing streak.

Robbie added: ''If I ever had man flu I would want Elton John to nurse me. He could make me chicken soup and come over a stroke our head.''

The 'Candy' hitmaker seems to have put his famously fraught relationship with Gary behind him for good.

The pair - who will go head-to-head in the charts when their new solo records are released next month - had a tense relationship during their time in Take That in the 90s, with Robbie citing Gary's dismissive attitude of his ideas as one of the reasons he quit in 1995.

But this turned into a full-blown feud when they both embarked on solo pop careers, with Robbie taking every opportunity he could to mock his former bandmate as his career took off while Gary's flopped.

Robbie, 39, previously confessed: ''You know, even when he was down, I didn't let go. I wanted to crush him. I wanted to crush the memory of the band - and I didn't let go.

''You know, even when he was down, I didn't let go. And for that I sincerely apologies.''

Gary and the other three members of Take That - Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Howard Donald - reformed in 2005 achieving massive chart success and critical acclaim and performing huge stadium tours.

They were rejoined by Robbie - whose music career was at a low at the time - in 2010 for the album 'Progress' and a sold-out tour.