Chris Heath

Quick Facts

Summary

Chris Heath is a British writer and journalist best known for his long association with Robbie Williams. He documented Williams’ career at close range in the book Feel, providing an unusually detailed and candid account of the singer’s life, work and creative process during the height of his solo success.

Biography

Journalism career

Chris Heath established his career as a journalist in the UK music press, writing for publications including Smash Hits, Q and other mainstream outlets. His work focused on popular music, artists and cultural trends, and he became known for his ability to blend factual reporting with humour and close observation.

During the 1990s, Heath was part of a generation of writers who helped shape the tone of British music journalism, moving beyond straightforward interviews towards more narrative-driven features.

Meeting Robbie Williams

Heath’s association with Robbie Williams began during Williams’ time in Take That, when Heath covered the group as part of his work for the music press. As Williams transitioned into a solo career, Heath maintained contact, documenting the early stages of Williams’ post-Take That reinvention.

This existing professional relationship laid the groundwork for a more immersive project that would later define Heath’s public profile.

The book Feel

Published in 2005, Feel is Chris Heath’s most widely known work. The book chronicles Robbie Williams’ career and personal life over several years, drawing on unprecedented access to rehearsals, recording sessions, tours and private moments.

Rather than following a traditional biography format, Feel presents a chronological, scene-by-scene account of Williams’ life as it unfolded. Heath appears within the narrative as an observer, documenting conversations, events and environments without positioning himself as a central figure.

The book covers Williams’ creative process, relationships, mental health struggles and interactions with the music industry, offering a portrait that is both detailed and unsparing.

Style and approach

Heath’s writing style in Feel is characterised by understatement, irony and restraint. He avoids overt commentary, allowing events and dialogue to speak for themselves.

This approach distinguishes the book from authorised celebrity biographies, which often rely on retrospective interviews and controlled narratives. Heath’s account is grounded in real-time observation.

Impact and reception

Feel was widely praised for its honesty and literary quality, and has been cited as one of the most revealing books ever written about a contemporary pop artist.

Its reputation rests not only on the level of access granted, but on Heath’s ability to document fame without sensationalism. The book has remained a reference point in discussions about celebrity culture, mental health and the pressures of global stardom.

Relationship with Robbie Williams

Heath’s relationship with Williams was professional rather than promotional. While granted access, Heath did not act as a publicist or collaborator in Williams’ music, and maintained editorial independence.

The trust between writer and subject was central to the project, allowing Heath to document moments of vulnerability as well as success.

Later work

Following Feel, Chris Heath continued to work as a writer and journalist, contributing to books and long-form projects beyond the music industry.

Although he has remained less publicly visible in recent years, his work with Robbie Williams remains the defining chapter of his career.

Credits & Contributions (21)