X Factor judge Gary Barlow: I thought that spear-wielding cannibals were going to eat us

X Factor judge Gary Barlow: I thought that spear-wielding cannibals were going to eat us

The Take That singer and X Factor judge was collecting musical inspiration for the official Diamond Jubilee song when he was ambushed by a mob of men armed with bows and arrows and spears.

After travelling by canoe for six hours to the remote Pacific isle of Malaita, he was completely taken by surprise when he was surrounded by members of the clan wearing necklaces decorated with TEETH.

He told TV Biz how he was scared for his life and worried he would become the victim of cannibalism.

Gary said: “We were all white men and there were only eight of us.

“I really did think, ‘They’ve taken us all this way up the river and they could kill us and eat us alive and no one would know’.”

Gary was in the far-flung spot while filming a BBC documentary about his journey to find musical talent across the Commonwealth to contribute to the track, called Sing.

Starting out at Treetops Safari Lodge in Kenya â€" where the Queen learned that her father had died and she was to succeed to the British throne â€" Gary discovered the musical delights of the African Children’s Choir, a Masai tribe and Rastafarian drummers.

Others acts included the Slum Drummers from Nairobi â€" their instruments are made out of rubbish â€" a blind Aboriginal and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Released later this month, Sing is expected to be the first chart single to feature a member of the Royal Family â€" Prince Harry playing the tambourine after some tutoring from Gary.

Some of the stars of the track will be flown into the UK for the BBC’s Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace and will meet the Royal family and top stars.

Gary said: “We came back and obviously I am putting all the concert together and my first words were that we have to fly some of these people back.

“For instance, the Slum Drummers and the children’s choir are flying over. They have never been on a plane before and are going to meet the Queen, Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney.

“It’s going to be incredible â€" and within that lies another message in that we have changed some people’s lives, which is gorgeous.”

Gary, who will become a father for the fourth time later this year, was taught a valuable fatherhood tool by the Royal Solomon Police Force Band.

A member of the marching band â€" who play at all their country’s state events â€" instructed Gary on how to rock a baby to sleep.

After trying out the moves, Gary said: “Now that bit I do like, I love children that go to sleep, it’s the best part of the day. I will be taking that routine home with me. Oh, my wife is going to love this.”

The team put the finishing touches to the record in London’s Abbey Road Studios with Gareth Malone’s Military Wives choir.

Gary â€" who while in Sydney started working on material for the next Take That album â€" revealed he “falls in and out of love with music” but his adventure made him “determined to find that spot again”.

He said: “The thing I really love to see is how much the people we have met and recorded love music.

“I was there when I started, that’s why I played an instrument and why I used to get up and sing, because I loved it, I absolutely loved it.

“I fall in and out of love with music. I exist in a business, I am signed to a major record company, there is money they build into their profits because of what I do for them. And so I need to remind myself that I need to play music and just enjoy it.”

He added: “First and foremost I was a musician when I started. My one passion was playing the piano. And I look back now, the day I started singing, I kind of lost it. I lost the musician in me somewhere.

“Being part of this has given what I do a little more validity and it makes me feel like we have done something really good here.

“And it is something I will remember in my career forever.”

He also insisted that his X Factor Mr Nasty persona with his cruel comments are here to stay.

Gary, who took over the mantle from Simon Cowell last year, revealed the King of Mean and his critical comments will continue to weed out those not up to scratch.

He said: “I never said anything about not being nasty. I said I’m going to enjoy it more this year. You always have got to be honest.”

Gary admitted that out of the band’s new dads, he will be intrigued to see how Robbie Williams copes. He said: “We are most interested in Robbie’s birth. I would love a 24-hour surveillance on how that is going to work.

“I have found the right girl as my wife takes up all the slack all the time I am travelling and busy.”

The star said revealing the final product to the Queen was a “nice break” for her from meeting dignitaries â€" and she is thought to be “delighted” with the song.

Gary Barlow: On Her Majesty’s Service will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday, June 3, at 7.30pm. Sing will be performed live at The Diamond Jubilee Concert on June 4.