RUN FOR YOUR (WEST) LIVES!
Shane Filan swept out to sea - May 2005
THE Westlife star almost drowns on holiday in Miami after being swept out to sea by a freak wave. He is rescued by a lifeguard at
South Beach
as his pregnant wife Gillian watches in horror.
Shane says: "I thought I was going to die. I'm lucky to be alive. It was one of those moments when your life flashes before your eyes."
Promoting: The
single You Raise Me Up
Kian Egan chased by lion - April 2005
FELLOW Westlifer Kian is nearly savaged by a lion while on safari in Durban, South Africa, after he leaves his tour guide's vehicle. Kian says: "It was the most terrifying few seconds of my life and I have never run so fast."
Promoting: Tour of South Africa.
EXCLUSIVE: WESTLIFE'S MARK: I'M GAY
SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE
By Caroline Hedley 19/08/2005
WESTLIFE star Mark Feehily (second from left) opened his heart yesterday to reveal that he is gay.
The 25-year-old pin-up said: "I want people to know the truth. I am gay and I'm very proud of who I am.
"I'm not asking for sympathy, or to be a role model for someone else.
"I simply felt it was the right time to tell the truth."
Mark, who is in
a relationship with singer Kevin McDaid, 21, said: "In the past I haven't felt the need to say anything about my sexuality.
"But I want people to know I'm very comfortable with who I am."
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Mark and Kevin, who was in boy band V, met a few months ago.
Mark said: I'm not worried about how people react because I'm happy being who I am.
"I'm still the same person the day I was before. I'm sure Westlife fans will be pleased I'm happy. I don't think it changes anything."
Mark said: "All the lads in Westlife have settled down and are in relationships, so why can't I be?"
Loyal bandmates Kian Egan, 25, Shane Filan, 26, and Nicky Byrne, 26, all knew Mark was gay but have never spoken about it in public.
It's now 5.30am and Westlife are watching the sun come up from the terrace of Westlife's £1,000-a-night Ritz Carlton beach villa in Bahrain.
It's the penultimate night of the band's 56-date world tour and, having spent five hours necking champagne and ice, Shane is a bit worse for wear.
In a few weeks, his wife Gillian will give birth and the 26-year-old is finding it hard to concentrate on anything but the impending arrival.
The couple are expecting a girl and they've already named her Nicole. Nursing a grainy mobile
phone picture of the scan, Shane coos: "Isn't she just beautiful? I just can't wait to be a daddy.
"I was speaking to Brian McFadden the other day and he keeps telling me how fatherhood's the best thing ever. To experience it will be incredible."
Just as things are in danger of becoming overly sentimental, Mark retreats to the kitchen and returns with two pints of nearly-neat vodka.
Glugging on one, he hands me the other with an assurance that it will "get me going".
Meanwhile the other inebriated lads debate whether to jump into their private pool, fully-clothed. It seems being in each other's company so much brings out their inner teens.
"We've been together seven years and we're pretty much like family," says Shane.
Kian, 25, agrees, saying: "The thing is we don't have egos among ourselves. A lot of bands have split up due to ego clashes - people getting above themselves and thinking they can do things by themselves.
"I would hate to do this by myself. I wouldn't like travelling around the world on my own."
Nicky, 26, chips in, "We were lucky to make it but it's even harder to stay successful - there are always new kids on the block. A lot of the new bands want to go to heaven but none of them want to die. No one wants to do that hard work."
After seven years at the top, do they still get starstruck?
"Kevin Spacey was pretty cool - very funny. And meeting Pope John Paul II was special," says Shane.
Westlife have had 12 No.1
singles and played to over three million fans on four sell-out arena tours. And they're not planning to stop.
I READ somewhere that we were going to call it a day in 18 months' time," says Shane. "That's bulls**t.
"If our next album's successful we'll make another one. We are still selling out concerts all over the world and it's a fantastic
job."
Not that it's all work and no
play. The boys boozed heavily in the early days and still like a drink or three.
"We're not as bad now but we still
go out two or three nights a week and get absolutely plastered," admits Kian. "But we have to stay in shape and we work out most days, even when we really don't feel like it."
His face lights up when he gets a text from his girlfriend, Jodi Albert
The ex-Hollyoaks star is ready to walk down the aisle, but he won't be tied down just yet.
"I'm always taking the mickey out of her and saying I want five kids, so maybe the idea is settling in her brain," he laughs.
"But as for
marriage, well we've only been together two years...
"You've got to be with someone for at least five years before you
settle down. we're both young."
Shane is wed to Gillian Walsh and Nicky is married to Irish premier's daughter Georgina Ahern.
"That's just the way it is at the moment and I'm cool with it," he insists. "I'm building a house in Ireland and when I'm not working that takes up most of my time."
ROBBIE LOSES OUT TO WESTLIFE
2/11/2005
ROBBIE Williams might need Intensive Care after being beaten to No. 1 in the midweek album chart by Westlife, who sold 65,000 copies of Face To Face.
WESTLIFE'S 13TH NO1
31/10/2005
WESTLIFE were celebrating their 13th No 1 single last night after You Raise Me Up stormed straight to the top of the UK charts.
The latest
offering from the Irish boy band - who have sold more than 25million albums worldwide - knocked the Arctic Monkeys back into the No2 spot.
