The singer accepted libel damages of more than £200,000 after a newspaper and two magazines claimed his official biography was deceiving the public by leaving out his homosexual experiences.

His counsel, Tom Shields QC, told the High Court the publications had agreed to the out-of-court settlement, which included costs, after admitting they were wrong. He added: "Mr Williams is not, and has never been, homosexual."

"There is plenty of time to settle down with the right girl - that's of course if I'm not gay," he said on The Today Show, a national breakfast-time programme in Australia.

Williams sued The People and the Northern & Shell magazines Star and Hot Stars over claims that he had sex with a man in a lavatory at a Manchester club when he was in the boy band Take That.

The story, first printed in The People under the headline Robbie's Secret Lover, went on to claim that Williams had tried to have sex with the man again later the same year.

The claims came out at the same time as the singer's biography Feel, by journalist Chris Heath, and suggested Williams was about to deceive the public by pretending his only sexual relations had been with women.

His former bandmate Howard Donald said in a recent documentary: "Robbie just doesn't know what he is. It wouldn't surprise me if he was bisexual."

The singer has often joked about the rumours, including saying his friend Jonathan Wilkes and former writing partner Guy Chambers - who are both married - were his gay lovers.

In Old Before I Die, he sings: "Am I straight or gay", while in Kids, the lyrics say: "Press be asking do I care for sodomy, I don't know, yeah, probably".

Although he says he is desperate to settle down with a woman and start a family, the singer has not had a serious relationship since splitting with former All Saints singer Nicole Appleton seven years ago.

He admitted that naked pictures taken of him and onetime flame Rachel Hunter were a publicity stunt, while questions have also been raised about another very public relationship with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.

I think it's ridiculous that Robbie should be concerned about the gay rumours - so many celebrities have met with these speculations.... John Travolta, Tom Cruise to name a few.

The most surprising thing about this case is the fact that being called gay is identified on the cover of the Daily Mail as being a 'slur' - i.e. an insult. Would it be regarded as an 'insult' to describe the colour of the sky as turquoise, when it was actually aqua? Being gay is nothing to be ashamed of, and it is typical of the homophobia still prevalent in the law and the media that it is treated as being something negative and derogatory.

This story first appeared in the . For more great stories like this, buy the Daily Mail every day. Plus, to get the paper delivered to your home click here .

This is cache, read story here