Robbie Williams does not think Liam Gallagher will be able to compete with him as a solo artist.

Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams

The former Oasis frontman is set to launch his debut solo album in 2017 - but Robbie, 42, does not think that his one-time rival will be a threat when it comes to record sales.

He said: "For competitiveness I don't think I've got anything to worry about. But if Liam gets the right songs, in 12 months' time he could push my competitive nature and I could be p***ed off.

"Right now I just want him to make a really great album. The world misses him and I hope it is brilliant."

Robbie and Liam have been involved in a long-running, memorable spat that dates back to Oasis' Britpop heyday in the 90s.

The duo partied together at Glastonbury in 1995, but their relationship entered a downward spiral when Noel Gallagher, Liam's elder brother, referred to the 'Angels' hitmaker as "the fat dancer from Take That".

In 2000, Liam started dating, and later married, Robbie's ex-girlfriend Nicole Appleton, while at the BRIT Awards that year Robbie offered to fight the outspoken singer for £100,000.

Later, Liam said that if the former Take That star said anything negative about him, his then-girlfriend or his brother he would "knock him out".

These days, though, the pair are on better terms and Robbie revealed he would watch the new Oasis film 'Supersonic' if the opportunity arose, describing the charismatic frontman as the "voice of our generation".

He told The Sun newspaper: "If it's on a flight then I will watch it. That was a f***ing amazing time. High-octane stuff.

"Where were you while we were getting high? Well I was there - but I pushed it way too far. Things like that show everyone having an ace time but not the hangover.

"So yeah, I'd watch it on a plane but not if it reminded me of the hangover as I've been trying to get sober ever since.

"Liam was the voice of our generation and the soundtrack to our lives and the music industry needs a Liam."