Take That have been announced as the first headline act for the annual summer music festival at London’s Hyde Park.

The band, reinvented as a three-piece after Jason Orange’s departure in September 2014, will perform at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park on July 9 2016.

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen
Take That members Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The trio – consisting of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen – said: “If someone would have told us in 1991, ‘Hey guys, in 24 years you’re going to be playing at one of the most famous parks in the world’, I probably wouldn’t have believed whoever said it.

“We are thrilled to have been invited to headline Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park. The atmosphere will be amazing. I know that between us and the audience, there’s going to be an incredible energy.”

Take That
Take That’s original line up with Robbie Williams and Jason Orange in 1993 (Neil Munns/PA)

The These Days singers are the first act announced for the multi-day festival, which has seen The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi and Black Sabbath headline since it began in 2013.

Take That have big shoes to fill after this summer’s main stage acts The Who – who celebrated their 50th anniversary at the gig – Taylor Swift, Blur, Kylie Minogue and The Strokes earned the festival five nominations at the UK Festival Awards, including Line-Up of the Year and Best Headline Performance for Swift.

The Who
The Who headlined this summer’s festival (Ian West/PA)

Originally formed in 1990 with Orange and Robbie Williams, Take That have bagged 12 Number Ones, sold over 45 million records and won eight Brit awards despite their oscillating line-up.

Their recent Take That Live 2015 tour played to over half a million fans and was acclaimed for its spectacular live effects, including a flying tandem bicycle with a sidecar for Donald.

Tickets go on general sale on Friday November 13 at 9am.