THE boys are back!

Following a hugely successful run, during which Take That themselves made a surprise appearance, the musical based on the back catalogue of the world’s greatest man band is to return to Southampton in 2019.

Mayflower Theatre will be the musical’s final stop on an extended UK tour which has smashed box office records.

Tim Firth’s new musical is a nostalgic look at what it’s like to grow up with a boyband.

For five 16 year-old friends in 1992, ‘the band’ is everything. 25 years on, we are reunited with the group of friends, now 40-something women, as they try once more to fulfil their dream of meeting their heroes.

AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Curtis T Johns, Yazdan Qafouri and Sario Solomon, collectively known as Five To Five, winners of BBC’s Let It Shine, star as The Band in the show, which has the backing of all five members of Take That.

The score includes Never Forget. Back for Good, A Million Love Songs, Greatest Day. The Flood, Relight My Fire, Shine and Rule the World

Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald took to the stage to a riotous reception to perform during the finale on the opening night of a two-week stint in Southampton during October and November.

It will return from March 12 to 16. Tickets from 023 8071 1811 or visit mayflower.org.uk