Gary Barlow enjoys a game of padel with comedian pals Jason Manford and Michael McIntyre as friends dismiss 'unflattering' photos and insist Take That star is 'fit for 55'

Gary Barlow enjoyed a game of padel with his comedian pals Jason Manford and Michael McIntyre after friends insisted the Take That star is 'fit for 55'.  

The singer caused concern earlier this week as he looked tired and drawn as he stepped out for lunch at Michelin-starred Dorian restaurant in Notting Hill.

Clean-shaven Gary was dressed down in an oversized black jumper, a baseball cap and loose-fitting trousers with friends telling the Daily Mail that 'all is fine' with the Rule The World hitmaker. 

One friend described the photographs as 'unflattering', adding that Gary is 'fit for 55'.

Now the singer proved he's in shape as he enjoyed a day out playing padel at Padel Social Club in London with Michael, 50, and Jason, 45.

The group were also joined by Gary's friend Stu as they beamed for a selfie in their workout clothes ahead of playing the fast-paced racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash.

Jason joked in the caption: 'Had a brilliant game of padel with @officialgarybarlow his mate Stu & @michaelmcintyre at @padelsocialclub.

'There was a ‘million Lob songs’ and Gary’s got a ‘Backhand for Good’ but against Michael’s ‘Send to Wall’ shot, it ended up in a ‘Man Drawer’.

'Thats the best I’ve got! Puns are hard!'

The match comes after Gary completed Take That’s gruelling Circus Live tour alongside his bandmates Howard Donald, 58, and Mark Owen, 54.

The physically demanding production featured dancers, trapeze artists, clowns, tightrope walkers and roller skaters, while the trio even joined in with a unicycle stunt.

A reboot of the group’s lavish 2009 stadium show, it also boasted a floating hot-air balloon, a giant mechanical elephant and an ensemble of 260 performers.

The original Circus tour – which accompanied Take That’s 2008 album of the same name – became the fastest-selling in UK history at the time after its first eight dates sold out in less than five hours.

This summer’s revival went ahead without former bandmate Jason Orange, 56, who left the group in 2014, and ended at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on July 4.

Following the final show, Gary hailed it as Take That’s ‘best tour ever’.

He wrote on social media: ‘Best tour ever – to say that 35 years into our career is saying something.

‘I got to run away with The Circus twice. Now I’m running towards our next exciting, brand new show.’

Gary will soon be back in the spotlight as Take That prepare to release their tenth studio album, Dreamers, on November 20.

The group will perform the record at a one-off show at the London Palladium a week earlier before returning to the road for a European tour next summer.