Robbie Williams takes stake in college, sings mentoring's praises

LONDON - Pop singer Robbie Williams, a judge on Britain's The X Factor television show in 2018, is taking a stake in a performing arts college as he looks to mentor more people like him.

The singer of Angels and Let Me Entertain You will have a 20 per cent stake in Liverpool's LMA, which offers degrees in music, performing arts and games design.

Williams mentored a choir from LMA on The X Factor and said he enjoyed the experience.

"I was looking into the eyes of all the students and I was like: 'They are me. That's who I was and who I am'," the 45-year-old said.

"It's just that energy that I wanted more of and also I don't mind saying I was surprised I was actually quite good at mentoring. It's something that I want to carry on, in whatever capacity that is. I loved it."

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LMA's plans include opening a London campus next year.

Williams, a member of popular 1990s boyband Take That, will help drive LMA's expansion in Britain and abroad.

"I'll find out more as we go along. But I want to mentor. I want to be there. I want to find out how to teach... I have a bit of experience in the business."

Williams, whose wife Ayda Field was also a judge on The X Factor alongside series creator Simon Cowell, is working on an album and will not return to the show this year.

"I'm going to be all over the place promoting that. We wanted it desperately to work with The X Factor but it just wasn't (to be)," he said.

"It's a to-be-continued because myself and Simon are good friends, our family are good friends, the kids hang out all of the time and I think it's just a pause on the relationship," Williams added.