June 10, 2006 19:25

Robbie Williams in onstage glitch

Stunt backfires on the opening night of his European tour

Robbie Williams has vowed to play a free gig in Ireland after a stunt backfired onstage on the opening night of his European tour.

The singer was supposed to drop almost 100ft in a gondola during 'Let Me Entertain You' near the close of the Dublin Croke Park show last night (June 9), reports The Sun.

But a technical glitch left the singer suspended above the stage after it failed to descend.

The singer later announced to the audience: “I can let you into a little secret. When I was up there I was supposed to come down in a gondola and it was going to be entertainment at its highest peak.

"But when the man standing behind you says, ‘It’s fucked’ in front of 70,000 people, you panic. You’ll never know how much panic went through my mind when I was up there. You’ve been much better than me. I’ve not been very good tonight so I will come back and do it for free.”

Robbie will continue his Close Encounters tour in Europe before returning to the UK in September for two dates at Leeds Roundhay Park and five concerts at Milton Keynes Bowl.