Robbie Williams 'jealous' of 1D

Robbie Williams has admitted he envies boyband of the moment One Direction.

The singer, 38, who has been performing a string of solo comeback gigs, told Radio 1 that he wishes he was in One Direction's shoes.

"I'm jealous of them and I wish I was doing it all with them," the new dad, whose wife Ayda gave birth to their daughter Theodora Rose Williams this week, told DJ Greg James.

"I've met all the boys, but it was a long time ago. I am quoted as saying, 'Robbie Williams slammed One Direction. Robbie Williams had a go at One Direction'. I really didn't - I love the boys."

The Take That star added: "I'm looking forward to seeing where the road takes them for many years to come I hope. They do perform like they've never met each other and there's a certain charm to that too. It's brilliant."

His comments came as it was reported that One Direction had raked in £100 million between them since shooting to fame on The X Factor.

The Daily Mirror said that the vast earnings are revealed in a new chapter of Tom Bower's book on X Factor mogul Simon Cowell.

Tom writes: "One Direction were Cowell's new Westlife - a revival of his mastery of the music business. Nothing had been left to chance by Sony Music, with the band's hit album Up All Night selling over five million copies."

The biographer adds: "The songs, publishing, discs, DVDs, merchandising and endorsements brought in huge profits, with the five members of the group together estimated to have earned nearly £100million. Naturally, Sony and Syco raked in much more."