Thats life 2007-12-07

Theyve clocked up 36 million record sales worldwide and only the Beatles and Elvis have had more number ones. This week, Westlife show why they are one of the worlds biggest pop acts when they celebrate eight years of chart success with a live show on ITV1.

Hosted by Holly Willoughby and featuring surprise guests, the show sees the band perform some of their 14 uk number ones, including the five classics that topped a fan poll on itv.com

The group has come along way since Irish schoolfriends Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan first performed together in an amateur version of Grease. Signed by pop manager Louis Walsh,who recruited new members Nicky Byrne and Bryan Mcfadden, the boys secured a record deal with Simon Cowell and are still at the top today, despite the departure of Mcfadden, who quit the band and went solo in 2004,


MARK - LIFE AS I KNOW IT -
Mark, 27, is part of chart-topping band Westlife. His partner is former boyband singer Kevin McDaid.


If I could change anything about myself I' have a six-pack. I do go to the gym and I'm trying to get myself in shape, but I'm nowhere near there yet.

The most romantic thing anyone's ever done for me was when my partner, Kevin, got me a massive chocolate chip cookie with "Happy birthday" engraved on it. We were in California and he popped out to the local mall to get it made for me.

Not a lot of people know this, but I'm very good at tennis. When I was at school I played tournaments, but singing gave me even more of a buzz so I gave up sport for rock'n'roll.

To wake myself up I finish my shower with a blast of cold water. That always does the trick.

Last thing at night I always wet my hair to get rid of all the products in it.

When I have time to myself I write songs, but they're for myself rather than for the band.

When I'm feeling down I have to get out and about. I'll go for a walk and head for somewhere busy, like the West End, to take my mind off things.

My best friend is Kevin, and also a lad back home in Ireland who I've known since I was at school.

My "happy place" is when I'm in a room full of friends having a few drinks, chatting and catching up.

The best thing my parents taught me is to have manners. One thing I can't stand is when people don't have the common courtesy to be nice to you.

If I can I always try to avoid confrontation. I've become better at it when I need to stand up for myself, but I'm usually laid back and don't get into arguments.

It's not good for my image but I like crepes with Nutella on them. They're not good for my image because they give me a big fat belly.

If I could pass any law I' stop certain taxes, like when you want to give your parents money and the taxman wants a big chunk of it.

The song I can never get out of my head is Mercy by Duffy. It's so catchy and she has a great voice.

I drive a Mini Cooper and also an Audi Q7 jeep.

If I could be anyone else I'd be Jim Carrey, just to see how he comes up with all those crazy comedy ideas.

My favourite love song is Nothing Compares 2 U, but the original Prince version. His vocals are amazing on it.

When I was a child I wanted to be either Jan-Michael Vincent from Airwolf or Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man.

My biggest regret isI honestly don't have any. I've been very lucky in life and nothing bad has happened so far, touch wood.

My proudest moment was when I heard we'd sold out Croke Park in Dublin. We're playing there in June and the only bands who have sold out the place before us are huge acts like U2 and Bon Jovi.

The shop I can't walk past without buying something is the Vans in Covent Garden. The trainers are so cheap you can buy loads of them.' It's silly how many pairs I have around the house.

The most expensive thing I've ever splashed out on is two portraits of the performance artist Leigh Bowery. They cost me a lot of money but I know they'll be worth even more in the future.

I always laugh at South Park and Shameless, although the latter was better when it first started.

I know I'm having a bad hair day when I've let it grow a bit. Hairdressers say I have the weirdest hair - it goes all over the place and is very unmanageable - so I try to keep it short.

The best day of my life is impossible to say, I've had so many great days, but I remember having a barbecue in Ireland last summer, with all my friends and family around me, and that felt pretty wonderful.

My favourite restaurant is anywhere where they serve Japanese food, like Wagamama and Itsu.

The last film I saw was... The Simpsons Movie. I liked it even better than the IV show.

On my last holiday Kevin and I went to Amsterdam for a weekend recently. It was cold and crisp and it's such a beautiful city to walk around.

My last meal would be my mum's full-on Sunday roast, followed by the biggest lump of chocolate fudge cake imaginable.