Robbie Williams' new film Better Man has been well-received by critics, but social media has been awash with debate after it was revealed he would be portrayed as a performing monkey

This new film showing Robbie as a CGI chimp is all about his inner world - but cathartic as it is, he's not entirely free

Appleton is supportive of the film and was consulted throughout production - unlike Williams' father Peter Conway, a singer with whom he has performed many times over the years. In Better Man, he is played by Inside No 9's Steve Pemberton and portrayed as someone who let down his family.

When stars endorse their own biopics, more cynical viewers might end up wondering just how closely the events shown on screen cleave to the truth. But in this new jukebox musical about the life of Robbie Williams – directed by The Greatest Showman’s Michael Gracey,

Review - Robbie Williams' depiction of himself as a stunningly photorealistic simian/pop star hybrid in his biopic movie fits with his amped-up brand, writes Dan Slevin.