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westlife --- 2012
Nicky: It is going to be so scary, but we all know Westlife is over
Byrne just doesn't know what the next step is after calling it a day
IN GOOD NICK: Westlifes Nicky Byrne is looking forward to the future whatever it may bring
IT'S been a dramatic few weeks in the world of Westlife - and that's before they face into the emotional rollercoaster of their final shows this summer. Towering Mark Feehily recently announced his shock split with longtime English boyfriend, Kevin McDaid, a boyband-star-turned photographer. And The Voice of Ireland mentor, Kian Egan, got the best Christmas present ever when he and his gorgeous wife, Jodi, became first time parents to baby son, Koa.
Shuffle caught up with Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan to find out how they will cope with the traumatic months ahead as they close the Westlife chapter after 14 years at the top of the charts. The boys admit that all the Westlife lads are "scared" of what lies ahead.
"It's not like taking a break," Nicky Byrne points out."When we took a year off after Croke Park in 2008, I thought, 'I'll enjoy my life; I'll holiday, I'll do a little bit of work.' This is different: we're making a career decision that is final and that's going to be scary.
"How we are going to face our final show I don't really know. It's easy to predict that we're all going to be sad and that we'll cry and hug each other. But it's the aftermath that scares us because we just don't know what lies ahead.
"Waking up the day after our last show is going to be a really weird feeling. It's going to be like, 'OK, what are we going to do now?' None of us want to sit at home shining our golf clubs."
Singer Shane Filan, sitting on the edge of a couch in a plush hotel room, nods in agreement. "It is going to be scary and it scares all of us, but we also know that Westlife has to come to an end," he says.
"We're together 14 years as a pop group, which is bananas.We're wondering what else is out there in life, having spent half of our lives in a band. It's been amazing, but we also know there are other things in life that we'll never get to do unless we make the break and give it a go."
SIMPLY THE WEST: The forthcoming tour will be the last for Westlife, who have spent 14 years in the pop business
Shane reveals that all four members of Westlife want to remain in showbusiness - and he will be the first member to launch a solo singing career. Louis Walsh has already agreed to be his manager. "Shane is going to be huge as a solo singer," Louis tells Shuffle.
Shane admits: "I know it's a tough world out there and we are all going to have to prove ourselves outside Westlife.There will be a lot of pressure on us because we'll all be under a microscope no matter what we do."
Despite their apprehension about the future, the Westlife lads say they are also facing into the unknown with a sense of excitement. "We feel nervously excited that we have a challenge again because Westlife had stopped being a challenge," Shane admits.
"In the last few years it was nearly like auto pilot. And while we loved doing the live concerts, the business side of running Westlife was draining the joy out of it for us.The business side is stressful."
Filan and Byrne laugh at the reaction they got from some media people following the announcement of their split. "It's like when someone dies, suddenly we were great," Nicky laughs.
"I remember reading stuff through the years - and you only remember the bad things - about us being a karaoke band or whatever. And, do you know, probably some of them were right.
"But as soon as we said we were quitting, there was nostalgia for the group and loads of journalists and radio people were saying nice things about us. If we'd known they felt that way about us we might have stayed on."
............
Byrne just doesn't know what the next step is after calling it a day
IN GOOD NICK: Westlifes Nicky Byrne is looking forward to the future whatever it may bring
IT'S been a dramatic few weeks in the world of Westlife - and that's before they face into the emotional rollercoaster of their final shows this summer. Towering Mark Feehily recently announced his shock split with longtime English boyfriend, Kevin McDaid, a boyband-star-turned photographer. And The Voice of Ireland mentor, Kian Egan, got the best Christmas present ever when he and his gorgeous wife, Jodi, became first time parents to baby son, Koa.
Shuffle caught up with Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan to find out how they will cope with the traumatic months ahead as they close the Westlife chapter after 14 years at the top of the charts. The boys admit that all the Westlife lads are "scared" of what lies ahead.
"It's not like taking a break," Nicky Byrne points out."When we took a year off after Croke Park in 2008, I thought, 'I'll enjoy my life; I'll holiday, I'll do a little bit of work.' This is different: we're making a career decision that is final and that's going to be scary.
"How we are going to face our final show I don't really know. It's easy to predict that we're all going to be sad and that we'll cry and hug each other. But it's the aftermath that scares us because we just don't know what lies ahead.
"Waking up the day after our last show is going to be a really weird feeling. It's going to be like, 'OK, what are we going to do now?' None of us want to sit at home shining our golf clubs."
Singer Shane Filan, sitting on the edge of a couch in a plush hotel room, nods in agreement. "It is going to be scary and it scares all of us, but we also know that Westlife has to come to an end," he says.
"We're together 14 years as a pop group, which is bananas.We're wondering what else is out there in life, having spent half of our lives in a band. It's been amazing, but we also know there are other things in life that we'll never get to do unless we make the break and give it a go."
SIMPLY THE WEST: The forthcoming tour will be the last for Westlife, who have spent 14 years in the pop business
Shane reveals that all four members of Westlife want to remain in showbusiness - and he will be the first member to launch a solo singing career. Louis Walsh has already agreed to be his manager. "Shane is going to be huge as a solo singer," Louis tells Shuffle.
Shane admits: "I know it's a tough world out there and we are all going to have to prove ourselves outside Westlife.There will be a lot of pressure on us because we'll all be under a microscope no matter what we do."
Despite their apprehension about the future, the Westlife lads say they are also facing into the unknown with a sense of excitement. "We feel nervously excited that we have a challenge again because Westlife had stopped being a challenge," Shane admits.
"In the last few years it was nearly like auto pilot. And while we loved doing the live concerts, the business side of running Westlife was draining the joy out of it for us.The business side is stressful."
Filan and Byrne laugh at the reaction they got from some media people following the announcement of their split. "It's like when someone dies, suddenly we were great," Nicky laughs.
"I remember reading stuff through the years - and you only remember the bad things - about us being a karaoke band or whatever. And, do you know, probably some of them were right.
"But as soon as we said we were quitting, there was nostalgia for the group and loads of journalists and radio people were saying nice things about us. If we'd known they felt that way about us we might have stayed on."
............
Monday, 23 January 2012 Written by Jon Stickler
Another day and another Westlife tour date is announced, today the lads have confirmed a further show at London's O2 Arena for Saturday 12th May.
Westlife embark on their final ever tour together in May. They will play their final ever show together at Dublin's Croke Park in June. Since announcing the farewell tour back in the Autumn last year, Westlife have been forced to announce further dates nearly ever week to meet phenomenal demand to see the boyband live for the very last time.
Westlife UK & Ireland Tour Dates are as follows:
May 2012
Sat May 12th 2012 The O2 Arena, London NEW DATE
Sun May 13th 2012 Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Mon May 14th 2012 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tue May 15th 2012 - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool
Thu May 17th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Fri May 18th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Sat May 19th 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Sun May 20th 2012 - NEC - LG Arena, Birmingham
Tue May 22nd 2012 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
Wed May 23rd 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Thu May 24th 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Sat May 26th 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
Sun May 27th 2012 - SECC, Glasgow
Tue May 29th 2012 Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Wed May 30th 2012 Odyssey Arena, Belfast
June 2012
Fri June 1st 2012 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Sat June 2nd 2012 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Mon June 4th 2012 LG Arena, Birmingham
Tue June 5th 2012 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
Thu June 7th 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Fri June 8th 2012 - LG Arena, Birmingham
Sat June 9th 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
Mon June 11th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Tue June 12th 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Wed June 13th 2012 - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool
Fri June 15th 2012 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sat June 16th 2012 - SECC, Glasgow
Sun June 17th 2012 - SECC, Glasgow
Tue June 19th 2012 SECC, Glasgow
Wed June 20th 2012 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Fri June 22nd 2012 - Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
Sat June 23rd 2012 - Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
l;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Westlife star Mark Feehily looks to solo future as band call it quits
Jan 1 2012 By Beverley Lyons
However, its absolutely certain the summer will see the end of an era for one of Irelands most popular musical exports of all time, when Westlife call it a day.
The foursome since Brian McFadden departed find themselves contemplating life outside the band thats taken them around the world for 14 years.
Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne have no idea which of them will go on to be solo superstars, and which if any will fade into obscurity, happily or otherwise.
Mark said: I dont think anybody could have predicted Cheryl Cole would have the most successful solo career out of Girls Aloud.
Its only when we all go off and make music that it will be a bit more apparent who will be successful or not.
Mark is the guy most would put their money on. With one of the strongest voices in the band, striking looks, a likeable nature and having already written some of the material on previous albums, he appears to have a head start.
He admitted hes keen to carve out a name for himself once the band finally stops performing, following a greatest hits tour in the summer.
He said: Ive been creative since I was 13 and recently Ive been applying it a bit more. Ive written thousands of songs but they are hidden away on a hard drive.
In the last few years I opened up a bit more about them and presented a demo to Westlife.
They were immediately recorded and the boys put some tracks on the Where We Are album.
Our last album has four new tracks on it and I have written the last song we will release, Beautiful World.
Mark, 31, is determined to continue with a musical career once he and his bandmates part ways.
He explained: Im a singer and will always want to make music. I didnt want Westlife to end so I could make a solo record, but it is something I will do now.
Ive got a million ideas, a very creative brain. In order to be happy in life Im going to have to create.
Of course, Westlife are not the first boyband to split up, and the road ahead can be tough for members flying solo.
Having witnessed the hardships endured by members of East 17 and 5ive, after failing to relight the fires of success, Mark is determined that he and each of his bandmates are not headed for oblivion.
He asserted: Were all very driven people. If anything, we are more now that we have to push ourselves individually.
Some people run off to the distance and you never see them again.
They have a big stint at the top and then you see some random picture of them with a two-foot beard living in obscurity.
We are more driven than ever. We are all just over the age of 30 now. A lot of people speak to us as though we are already dead but we are just moving on from Westlife.
Each of us, hopefully, will have beautiful, flowery careers ahead.
Most of his bandmates are champing at the bit to try their hand at new adventures but Mark admits Kian may take more time than others to readjust.
He explained: The only person who wants to go off and completely get away and relax is Kian.
Hes already a coach on The Voice in Ireland and he has just had a kid. Part of him wants to completely get away, step away from the business and enjoy his child.
We took a year off three years ago and it was horrible for Kian because he suffered a terrible misfortune during that time.
His dad passed away, which put a dark cloud over the year for him.
He wasnt able to relax and do a bit of soul searching like the rest of us.
I think hell definitely relax and go away for a while, but Kian is also very driven.
Making the final decision to split was not easy for anyone but it came after months of rumours about the band.
Mark is keen to reassure Westlife fans that there was never any animosity among them.
He said: That is something we are stressing a lot.
There was no incident or episode where someone said: Thats it. Im f***ing out of here.
There was no sensational moment. Its something that manifested over years. It was more an idea of calling it a day and moving on to new adventures for all of us.
Everyones mind was eventually on the same page.
Weve had an amazing 14 years but its time for something new. We didnt want it to dwindle away and for the magic to have gone from it.
The tour we are about to do, our farewell tour, is the biggest tour well have ever done in our career.
We are going out on top, not staying around like an unwanted guest at the end of the party.
As Mark insisted that the boys plans to split are not a publicity stunt, quashing hopes that they have secret plans for a big reunion three years down the line, he revealed a new string to his bow.
Though his secret new project is still in its infancy, the excitement in his voice was clear.
He enthused: Ive been asked to write a musical by an amazing person in London.
Its somebody I really admire and its to do something like Boy Georges Taboo musical, which he wrote about 20 years ago. Its an updated newer version and its not completely commercial mainstream a jazz hands musical like Grease but a bit more off the centre with a mixture of indie, pop music and Broadway.
Thats always been something Ive been interested in and Im flattered that Ive been asked to be involved with some people I really admire. But nothing exists yet.
Its all just talk but its very exciting to even be talking about it.
Before anything can be done, however, the boys will lay to rest their collective status, their career together culminating in a farewell tour that will see them play 90 dates in the UK and Ireland.
Marks eyes twinkled, partly in sadness, part in excitement, as he added: Its going to be a sad day, but its also a celebration of 14 years together and 14 years of touring.
Its not all doom and gloom.
We want to have fun and Scotland has an absolutely electric crowd who always scream very well.
.......
Another day and another Westlife tour date is announced, today the lads have confirmed a further show at London's O2 Arena for Saturday 12th May.
Westlife embark on their final ever tour together in May. They will play their final ever show together at Dublin's Croke Park in June. Since announcing the farewell tour back in the Autumn last year, Westlife have been forced to announce further dates nearly ever week to meet phenomenal demand to see the boyband live for the very last time.
Westlife UK & Ireland Tour Dates are as follows:
May 2012
Sat May 12th 2012 The O2 Arena, London NEW DATE
Sun May 13th 2012 Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Mon May 14th 2012 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tue May 15th 2012 - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool
Thu May 17th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Fri May 18th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Sat May 19th 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Sun May 20th 2012 - NEC - LG Arena, Birmingham
Tue May 22nd 2012 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
Wed May 23rd 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Thu May 24th 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Sat May 26th 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
Sun May 27th 2012 - SECC, Glasgow
Tue May 29th 2012 Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Wed May 30th 2012 Odyssey Arena, Belfast
June 2012
Fri June 1st 2012 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Sat June 2nd 2012 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Mon June 4th 2012 LG Arena, Birmingham
Tue June 5th 2012 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
Thu June 7th 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Fri June 8th 2012 - LG Arena, Birmingham
Sat June 9th 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
Mon June 11th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Tue June 12th 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Wed June 13th 2012 - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool
Fri June 15th 2012 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sat June 16th 2012 - SECC, Glasgow
Sun June 17th 2012 - SECC, Glasgow
Tue June 19th 2012 SECC, Glasgow
Wed June 20th 2012 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Fri June 22nd 2012 - Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
Sat June 23rd 2012 - Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
l;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Westlife star Mark Feehily looks to solo future as band call it quits
Jan 1 2012 By Beverley Lyons
However, its absolutely certain the summer will see the end of an era for one of Irelands most popular musical exports of all time, when Westlife call it a day.
The foursome since Brian McFadden departed find themselves contemplating life outside the band thats taken them around the world for 14 years.
Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne have no idea which of them will go on to be solo superstars, and which if any will fade into obscurity, happily or otherwise.
Mark said: I dont think anybody could have predicted Cheryl Cole would have the most successful solo career out of Girls Aloud.
Its only when we all go off and make music that it will be a bit more apparent who will be successful or not.
Mark is the guy most would put their money on. With one of the strongest voices in the band, striking looks, a likeable nature and having already written some of the material on previous albums, he appears to have a head start.
He admitted hes keen to carve out a name for himself once the band finally stops performing, following a greatest hits tour in the summer.
He said: Ive been creative since I was 13 and recently Ive been applying it a bit more. Ive written thousands of songs but they are hidden away on a hard drive.
In the last few years I opened up a bit more about them and presented a demo to Westlife.
They were immediately recorded and the boys put some tracks on the Where We Are album.
Our last album has four new tracks on it and I have written the last song we will release, Beautiful World.
Mark, 31, is determined to continue with a musical career once he and his bandmates part ways.
He explained: Im a singer and will always want to make music. I didnt want Westlife to end so I could make a solo record, but it is something I will do now.
Ive got a million ideas, a very creative brain. In order to be happy in life Im going to have to create.
Of course, Westlife are not the first boyband to split up, and the road ahead can be tough for members flying solo.
Having witnessed the hardships endured by members of East 17 and 5ive, after failing to relight the fires of success, Mark is determined that he and each of his bandmates are not headed for oblivion.
He asserted: Were all very driven people. If anything, we are more now that we have to push ourselves individually.
Some people run off to the distance and you never see them again.
They have a big stint at the top and then you see some random picture of them with a two-foot beard living in obscurity.
We are more driven than ever. We are all just over the age of 30 now. A lot of people speak to us as though we are already dead but we are just moving on from Westlife.
Each of us, hopefully, will have beautiful, flowery careers ahead.
Most of his bandmates are champing at the bit to try their hand at new adventures but Mark admits Kian may take more time than others to readjust.
He explained: The only person who wants to go off and completely get away and relax is Kian.
Hes already a coach on The Voice in Ireland and he has just had a kid. Part of him wants to completely get away, step away from the business and enjoy his child.
We took a year off three years ago and it was horrible for Kian because he suffered a terrible misfortune during that time.
His dad passed away, which put a dark cloud over the year for him.
He wasnt able to relax and do a bit of soul searching like the rest of us.
I think hell definitely relax and go away for a while, but Kian is also very driven.
Making the final decision to split was not easy for anyone but it came after months of rumours about the band.
Mark is keen to reassure Westlife fans that there was never any animosity among them.
He said: That is something we are stressing a lot.
There was no incident or episode where someone said: Thats it. Im f***ing out of here.
There was no sensational moment. Its something that manifested over years. It was more an idea of calling it a day and moving on to new adventures for all of us.
Everyones mind was eventually on the same page.
Weve had an amazing 14 years but its time for something new. We didnt want it to dwindle away and for the magic to have gone from it.
The tour we are about to do, our farewell tour, is the biggest tour well have ever done in our career.
We are going out on top, not staying around like an unwanted guest at the end of the party.
As Mark insisted that the boys plans to split are not a publicity stunt, quashing hopes that they have secret plans for a big reunion three years down the line, he revealed a new string to his bow.
Though his secret new project is still in its infancy, the excitement in his voice was clear.
He enthused: Ive been asked to write a musical by an amazing person in London.
Its somebody I really admire and its to do something like Boy Georges Taboo musical, which he wrote about 20 years ago. Its an updated newer version and its not completely commercial mainstream a jazz hands musical like Grease but a bit more off the centre with a mixture of indie, pop music and Broadway.
Thats always been something Ive been interested in and Im flattered that Ive been asked to be involved with some people I really admire. But nothing exists yet.
Its all just talk but its very exciting to even be talking about it.
Before anything can be done, however, the boys will lay to rest their collective status, their career together culminating in a farewell tour that will see them play 90 dates in the UK and Ireland.
Marks eyes twinkled, partly in sadness, part in excitement, as he added: Its going to be a sad day, but its also a celebration of 14 years together and 14 years of touring.
Its not all doom and gloom.
We want to have fun and Scotland has an absolutely electric crowd who always scream very well.
.......
On 3 March one of the worlds most successful boy bands, Westlife, will come to AsiaWorld-Expo for Westlife The Farewell Tour Live In Hong Kong 2012. After a phenomenal career that has spanned 14 years and numerous chart-topping hits, this is the final concert tour before the band splits up. Westlifes farewell tour has been so well received that all tickets are now sold-out
............
Footballs Next Star, which is due to air this autumn, according to Celtic FC.
Nicky, who was signed by Leeds United when he was 16, is a fanatical Celtic supporter, and he played for the Hoops in the Legends match at Celtic Park against Manchester United back in August.
So hes the ideal host for Footballs Next Star, which will be produced by Tyrone Productions for RTE Young Peoples Programmes, and it will feature 10 young footballers who will battle it out for one coveted place at Celtics prestigious Youth Academy. Its every Bhoys dream!
..............
Westlife have added even more shows in June to their farewell tour next year and will be performing at Metro Radio Arena for a second date on Friday 15th June 2012.
The Greatest Hits Tour will see Kian, Shane, Mark and Nicky perform their 14 number one singles and hits in one spectacular live show for the very last time. Having sold over 44 million records worldwide, the aforementioned 14 number one singles and 7 number one albums, Irish super-group Westlife are celebrating over 14 years of success by also releasing their brand new single Lighthouse on 13th November (physically 14th) with the release of their Greatest Hits on 21st November. The single written by Gary Barlow and John Shanks is an instantly recognisable Westlife classic complete with soaring melodies, rousing lyrics and is one of four brand new tracks to feature on their album. The band said: Its almost hard to believe that weve been doing this for as long as we have. Were incredibly proud of what weve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits album and performing them live on the tour as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career. 'After 14 years, 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top 5 albums, 7 of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44 million copies around the world, 10 sell out tours and countless memories that we will forever cherish, we today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year. The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures. We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans. We are really looking forward to getting out on the tour and seeing our fans one last time.' Over the years Westlife has become so much more to us than just a band. Westlife are a family. We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too. 'We never imagined when we started out in 1998 that 14 years later we would still be recording, touring and having hits together. It has been a dream come true for all of us.' Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane
............
lllllllllllllllllll
Filan eyes solo career as financial ruin looms
Westlife star faces ?23m debt, but Louis Walsh says he'll bounce back
FIGHTER: Shane Filan,
will be 'the next Michael Buble', says Louis Walsh
Sunday April 08 2012
WESTLIFE singer Shane Filan faces losing everything in the property crash and is now set to relaunch his pop career in an attempt to revive his fortunes.
Filan, one of Ireland's biggest pop stars, is believed to be in debt for up to ?23m, according to well-placed financial sources.
The singer is reportedly in the process of cutting a deal with creditors by entering an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) in Britain.
Sources say he has employed a leading firm of London accountants and is currently negotiating financial arrangements with his banks -- including Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland -- as a way of avoiding bankruptcy.
An IVA is a way of having debt written off if existing assets are sold to raise money for creditors.
It is understood in financial circles that Filan is attempting to keep earnings from the impending Westlife farewell tour out of the current negotiations.
This weekend his manager Louis Walsh, although refusing to be drawn on a figure for the Sligo man's total losses in the property business, confirmed that the singer was about to start afresh.
"He's wiping the slate clean and starting over," said Walsh. "He is going to be fine.
"He has a massive solo deal in the pipeline and is going to be a massive, massive star.
"He is set to make millions from the Westlife farewell tour. They have sold out two dates at Croke Park -- that alone is huge -- and then he will make millions from the solo career too."
The manager also said that he would be standing by his number one pop star and helping to get him back on his feet:
"I am 100 per cent sticking by him through this. He is facing up to it and doing it [in] a very honourable and honest way. And you have to respect him for that."
He added: "Shane has something that you can't buy, that no one else in Ireland has. He has a million-dollar voice. He'll be okay.
"We're meeting with record companies and I'm going to make him the next Michael Buble.
"I have big plans for Shane, there is huge interest and you know me when I say to watch this space. Shane's future is very bright."
Both Filan and Walsh have been in talks with several record companies in London in recent days.
It is believed that at least four different labels are making a bid to sign the Sligo father of three and release his debut solo album at the end of next year.
As a source explained: "There's four, possibly five labels so far who have made it very clear that they want Shane.
"He already has loads of ideas about the kind of album he wants to make and the road he wants to go down.
"He and Louis have have had back-to-back meetings with the heads of the UK's biggest record companies and he has his pick of deals.
"It couldn't have come at a better time, just as he needs to start again. But Louis has taken him under his wing and will always look after him."
Sources say that the money-spinning Westlife farewell tour is set to net the band more than ?12m.
And Filan is thrashing out a deal so that this and all future earnings will remain untouched by his creditors.
The 32-year-old -- who has sold 43 million records worldwide with Westlife, one of the biggest boy bands of all time -- is currently being sued by Bank of Ireland for unpaid debts.
Filan auctioned off his James Bond-style Aston Martin for ?398,000 last September. He had bought it just two years earlier as a birthday present to himself.
A spokeswoman for the Westlife star said Filan would not be commenting.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
M KIAN ON BEING A ROCKER AGAIN; Star wants to form new band.
Byline: MAEVE QUIGLEY
KIAN Egan has revealed he wants to form a rock band when Westlife split.
The star has always said he would rather move into band management after the group hang up their microphones.
But after being a coach on The Voice, Kian revealed he wants to launch his own group.
He said of a singing career after Westlife: Coming into the show as a singer myself but in the background with Westlife, I always had a thing in my mind that no, I wouldnt.
But being around these people I kind of have a different attitude towards it.
Kian, 31, plays a number of instruments including guitar and piano and was a former member of Sligo punk rock group Skrod.
He said being around singers such as Shane Filan and Mark Feehily made him doubt his own abilities as a vocalist.
But the other coaches on The Voice Sharon Corr, Bressie and Brian Kennedy have helped him get his musical mojo back.
He added: I suppose when you are in one world and you are in a band like Westlife and are in a band with people like Shane and Mark who are amazing singers, your confidence gets put down.
But then when you get around more musical people like Brian, for me as a musical person Brian has put a lot of confidence in me.
After Westlife part ways, Nicky Byrne looks set to pursue a career in television while both Shane and Mark are going to record solo albums.
But Kian said: I dont think I would do a solo album, I think I would be in a rock band.
And insiders said theres a possibility he might ask one of his team to join him in his guitarladen endeavours.
One added: It could be that Kian might have his eye on Graham [Dowling] as a member of his band in the future.
Credit/Source: Irish Daily Mirror Published on 18.04.2012
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
WESTLIFE star Mark Feehily claimed The Voice coach Kian Egan isnt mean in real life.
The gay star revealed he doesnt believe Kian is the Mr Nasty character people have made him out to be.
But the 31-year-old admitted his friend isnt as cruel in the recording studio with the rest of the band as he is on The Voice.
He added: I actually think Kian isnt that bad, and I think his comments are quite spot-on to be honest. But I do have to support him of course.
And Mark, who recently split from fiance Kevin McDaid, feels the bands split this summer is going to be bittersweet.
He said: Its quiet in terms of the Westlife stuff, but were always doing bits and pieces behind the scenes.
Weve got our final tour coming up which finishes in Croke Park. Its bittersweet because its going to be the best gigs of our life, but after that we finish up for good.
Credit/Source: Irish Daily Mirror published on 31.03.2012
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Westlife singer Shane Filan is set to make his first solo album with record company Universal, according to reports.
Shane Filan to sign to Universal The 32-year-old singer who is currently on Westlife's farewell tour due to end in Croke Park this June is believed to have signed a deal with Universal, despite the bands 14-year long career with Sony Music.
It is believed that Mark Feehily will also make a solo album, while other band mates, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne are set to focus on television.
Kian Egan recently judged the Irish version of the hit US show, The Voice. While according to reports in the Daily Star, Nicky Byrne is in talks with US show, Dancing With The Stars.
In an interview earlier today with 98FM, Kian said: "I have been in talks with Sky amongst other people aswell about other TV projects. Nothing is in the bag, nothing is finalised. I haven't signed any contracts or anything like that - it's all talk at the minute. I signed up with a big agency in the UK. It's looking good. It's looking like I will probably be doing one or two more things in the UK in the coming months and the next year or so but to be honest, I'm not chasing anything. I don't want to be running after anything - if something comes up that feels natural, then I'll go for it"
Nicky Byrne, who will be playing tonight in Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena alongside the band as part of their farewell tour has tweeted a picture of two fans that got his autograph tattooed on their wrists hours after he signed them.
Byrne took to Twitter to say: "Signed two girls wrists in Cardiff earlier.. Came back out of the Arena two hrs later and they've had them Tattooed !!!"
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FANS couldn't get hold of tickets for Ireland's most successful boyband's farewell tour fast enough when they went on sale last October.
After tickets disappeared within a matter of minutes, Westlife decided to give a few more of their beloved Birmingham fans the chance to see them perform their greatest hits one last time and added an extra date to their current LG Arena visit.
Having decided to split after 14 years performing together, 26 top ten hits, 11 top five albums which have collectively sold 44 million copies, the additional concert next Friday, June 8, will see Kjan, Shane, Mark and Nicky perform their 14 number ones, among others, in Birmingham for the very last time.
The band, the only group in British and Irish pop history to reach number one with their first seven singles, also boast an impressive history of awards from Smash Hits to Top of the Pops and countless Brit Awards.
"It's almost hard to believe that we've been doing this for as long as we have," said the band.
"We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits album and performing them live on the tour as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career."
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Only a few weeks left now until Westlife are no more .they play Cardiff tonight and they only have about 2 or 3 days where they wont be doing a show before the final concerts on the 22nd and 23rd of June at Croke Park.
So the next thing for the lads is figuring out what to do next we know that Shane Filan will be focusing on a solo career as will Mark Feehily and it seems after his stint on The Voice of Ireland, Kian Egan has been getting some TV presenting offers over in the UK so are the rumours true?
Kian told 98FM I have been in talks with Sky amongst other people aswell about other TV projects. Nothing is in the bag, nothing is finalised. I havent signed any contracts or anything like that its all talk at the minute. I signed up with a big agency in the UK. Its looking good. Its looking like I will probably be doing one or two more things in the UK in the coming months and the next year or so but to be honest, Im not chasing anything. I dont want to be running after anything if something comes up that feels natural, then Ill go for it.
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The Irish version of Footballs Next Star has wrapped filming and is currently in post-production at Screen Scene in Dublin.
Produced by Tyrone Productions for RTÉ, the show finished filming last weekend with scenes shot in locations including Dublin, Limerick and Glasgow. The show follows 10 talented young soccer hopefuls who battle it out to win a place at Celtics Youth Academy in Glasgow.
Westlife singer Nicky Byrne is the shows presenter, with the format originally developed by Sky TV. The Irish version for Tyrone has been directed by Paul Golding (Strictly Come Dancing). Noleen Golding (OMG! Jedwards Dream Factory) is the producer, while Patricia Carroll is the executive producer for Tyrone.
Eight 25-minute episodes of the series are scheduled to broadcast on RTE Two in September.
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SHANE Filan is to make his first solo album with Universal, despite Westlife enjoying a 14-year career with rival label Sony.
The 32-year-old is on the manbands farewell tour but is already plotting a debut disc away from the group.
Mark Feehily, 32, is also expected to make an album, while bandmates Nicky Byrne, 33, and Kian Egan, 32, focus on television.
Ive already revealed how Nicky is in talks with US show Dancing With The Stars.
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Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given took to twitter to thank his celebrity pals who supported his Fashion Kicks fundraiser in Manchester.
Warnock bid £10,000 to appear on stage on the night with Wesltife. And the 30-year-old Aston Villa defender even managed to upstage singer Shane Filan with his rendition of Mack The Knife.
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The evening - hosted by Shay and Jane Given, and said to offer a night of 'fashion, football, food and entertainment' - also attracted the attention of the recently-parted Westlife.
Kian Egan's wife Jodi Albert looked fantastic having just given birth last December, while Shane Filan's partner and mother of his three children Gillian looked like a Sixites bombshell in yellow.
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Nicky Byrne attended with wife Georgina
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WESTLIFE are gearing up for rehearsals for their final ever tour. Entertainment Editor Gordon Barr previews their two Newcastle shows.
WHEN Westlife take to the stage of the Metro Radio Arena on May 14 it will mark their 31st appearance there.
They hold the record for most shows at the venue but are not content with just 31 come June they will make their 32nd trip there as part of their farewell Greatest Hits tour.
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FAREWELLS dont always have to be sad. Richard Neale saw Westlife prove they can be entertaining, energetic and most of all fun.
THE fact the band known by some as them boys who sit on chairs and sing covers have lasted for 14 years probably says enough about their popularity and talent as any other statistic.
But for those who love a stat, the band have had 26 top ten-hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top five albums, seven of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44 million copies around the world, not to mention 10 sell-out tours.
Westlife wow fans at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena
And while other boy bands from 14 years ago are consigned to grubby fading posters in former fans garages, the boys from Ireland have managed to keep their huge fanbase more than happy while picking up a few others along the way.
And that is why, having already having performed at the Metro Radio Arena more than 30 times, the group have had to add an extra date to the city for their farewell tour.
And if its anything as good as the first date last night, fans will be in for a treat as all those years of experience performing concerts were put to great use.
Its a sad time for the boys and their fans but, after such a long time they wanted and deserved to go out on a high.
And that they did.
Shane has previously told we know we can sing. And for any who doubted that (nobody in last nights audience obviously), Nicky, Mark and Kian proved his point, with favourites such as Uptown Girl and Flying Without Wings.
Not that they needed to of course. Their adoring fans were happy to take the lead and fill in the word, verse or chorus of any and all songs when requested.
Not that they always did what the lads wanted. Welcome to the farewell tour was greeted with a chorus of boos from a public who want more years.
But the night wasnt about saying goodbye in a sad way.
We want this to be fun the full to bursting arena was told.
And it was.
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FAREWELLS dont always have to be sad. Richard Neale saw Westlife prove they can be entertaining, energetic and most of all fun.
From the start the night was all fun.
A simple silhouette of the lads behind the curtain whipped the crowd into a frenzy only for the curtain to reveal four burning effigies instead of the expected foursome.
During one break Nicky took time to read the banners fully knowing they always find a new level of depravity in the North East but enjoying every saucy comment. And when one woman asked them to fit into a pair of huge over-sized bloomers the boys duly obliged. This group are still great friends one of the reasons they want to give up now while theyre on top and happy. And theyre happy to have a laugh at themselves surely the dance moves were a nod to those who have had a go at this aspect of their performing.
But who needs to dance when they can entertain so well even covering huge modern hits like Black Eyed Peas Tonights Going To Be a Good Night and Bohemian Rhapsody (with obligatory horrible dance moves).
And for those fans sitting at the back, the circle was brought back with the lads flying across the Arena, making sure the back row became the front row and everyone got a good look at them performing... now there are no health and safety considerations to worry about.
In 2002 Westlife stood on this stage on their first tour. It was called dreams come true and they certainly did.
Nobody was sitting in their chair last night, and the tears were flowing as the famous four said their own personal farewells.
And fans will certainly be on the edge of their seats hoping one of the most successful boy bands of the last decade turn out again on the almost obligatory reunion tour sometime soon.
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Footballs Next Star, which is due to air this autumn, according to Celtic FC.
Nicky, who was signed by Leeds United when he was 16, is a fanatical Celtic supporter, and he played for the Hoops in the Legends match at Celtic Park against Manchester United back in August.
So hes the ideal host for Footballs Next Star, which will be produced by Tyrone Productions for RTE Young Peoples Programmes, and it will feature 10 young footballers who will battle it out for one coveted place at Celtics prestigious Youth Academy. Its every Bhoys dream!
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Westlife have added even more shows in June to their farewell tour next year and will be performing at Metro Radio Arena for a second date on Friday 15th June 2012.
The Greatest Hits Tour will see Kian, Shane, Mark and Nicky perform their 14 number one singles and hits in one spectacular live show for the very last time. Having sold over 44 million records worldwide, the aforementioned 14 number one singles and 7 number one albums, Irish super-group Westlife are celebrating over 14 years of success by also releasing their brand new single Lighthouse on 13th November (physically 14th) with the release of their Greatest Hits on 21st November. The single written by Gary Barlow and John Shanks is an instantly recognisable Westlife classic complete with soaring melodies, rousing lyrics and is one of four brand new tracks to feature on their album. The band said: Its almost hard to believe that weve been doing this for as long as we have. Were incredibly proud of what weve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits album and performing them live on the tour as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career. 'After 14 years, 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top 5 albums, 7 of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44 million copies around the world, 10 sell out tours and countless memories that we will forever cherish, we today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year. The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures. We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans. We are really looking forward to getting out on the tour and seeing our fans one last time.' Over the years Westlife has become so much more to us than just a band. Westlife are a family. We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too. 'We never imagined when we started out in 1998 that 14 years later we would still be recording, touring and having hits together. It has been a dream come true for all of us.' Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane
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Pop sensations Westlife are taking time out of their farewell tour of China to enjoy the top tourist sights.
The four pals posted a photo online as they posed in the famous Tiananmen Square in Beijing yesterday.
The band had performed before 15,000 fans in the MasterCard Centre in the city the night before. Band member Nicky Byrne tweeted: Taking in the sights in China Tiananmen square & the Forbidden City.
A spokesperson for the stars revealed Westlife are having the time of their lives in China. Theyve really been bowled over by the country and the Chinese people probably because they have more time to see the place this time.
In terms of concerts, they said its the new America. Theres a massive population and a huge appetite for live music and they were amazed by the rapturous welcome theyve received in China, the spokesperson added. Westlifes farewell tour of China is expected to earn them a whopping 5m.
The group will play in seven different cities for the final time in their 14-year history. The last Westlife tour is scheduled to visit the cities of Hangzhou, Chendu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong during the tour, which continues until March 3.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;The four pals posted a photo online as they posed in the famous Tiananmen Square in Beijing yesterday.
The band had performed before 15,000 fans in the MasterCard Centre in the city the night before. Band member Nicky Byrne tweeted: Taking in the sights in China Tiananmen square & the Forbidden City.
A spokesperson for the stars revealed Westlife are having the time of their lives in China. Theyve really been bowled over by the country and the Chinese people probably because they have more time to see the place this time.
In terms of concerts, they said its the new America. Theres a massive population and a huge appetite for live music and they were amazed by the rapturous welcome theyve received in China, the spokesperson added. Westlifes farewell tour of China is expected to earn them a whopping 5m.
The group will play in seven different cities for the final time in their 14-year history. The last Westlife tour is scheduled to visit the cities of Hangzhou, Chendu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong during the tour, which continues until March 3.
Westlife join the team for Shay and Jane Given's Fashion Kicks charity extravaganza
March 06, 2012
Westlife will perform at the Fashion Kicks event organised by their friends, Aston Villa goalie Shay Given and wife Jane Westlife will perform at the Fashion Kicks event organised by their friends, Aston Villa goalie Shay Given and wife Jane
Footballer Shay Given and wife Jane have scored quite the exclusive as they gear up to host their huge charity event in Manchester as
manband Westlife will perform just a week before their big farewell tour kicks off.
Republic of Ireland and Aston Villa goalie Shay and glamorous wife Jane have raised over £1mn with their Fashion Kicks events over the
past eight years.
And I can reveal they are planning their biggest event yet for this year once again to be held at The Point at Lancashire County Cricket
Club on May 1.
The couple have long been friends with the Westlife guys, and the Irish band have agreed to perform at the finale of the event just a
week before they head out on their final tour before splitting after 14 years together and 26 top ten hits.
Jane says: It will be the last charity event that Westlife will perform at together so we're just so thrilled they were able to support us and the charities.
They want to go all out, so I know it's going to be a very special performance.
The band's Nicky Byrne says: This year will be a memorable one for us and it is gratifying to know as Westlife draws to a close that we have helped Shay and Jane in some small way over the years.
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Westlife will perform at the Fashion Kicks event organised by their friends, Aston Villa goalie Shay Given and wife Jane Westlife will perform at the Fashion Kicks event organised by their friends, Aston Villa goalie Shay Given and wife Jane
Footballer Shay Given and wife Jane have scored quite the exclusive as they gear up to host their huge charity event in Manchester as
manband Westlife will perform just a week before their big farewell tour kicks off.
Republic of Ireland and Aston Villa goalie Shay and glamorous wife Jane have raised over £1mn with their Fashion Kicks events over the
past eight years.
And I can reveal they are planning their biggest event yet for this year once again to be held at The Point at Lancashire County Cricket
Club on May 1.
The couple have long been friends with the Westlife guys, and the Irish band have agreed to perform at the finale of the event just a
week before they head out on their final tour before splitting after 14 years together and 26 top ten hits.
Jane says: It will be the last charity event that Westlife will perform at together so we're just so thrilled they were able to support us and the charities.
They want to go all out, so I know it's going to be a very special performance.
The band's Nicky Byrne says: This year will be a memorable one for us and it is gratifying to know as Westlife draws to a close that we have helped Shay and Jane in some small way over the years.
Westlife announce girl group Vanquish as 'Farewell Tour' support
The boyband, who will embark on their 'Farewell Tour' of the UK and Ireland in May, confirmed that girl group Vanquish will open their shows.
Speaking about their appointment, the group said: "To be supporting Westlife on their final UK arena tour is an amazing feeling!
"We feel honoured to be part of this. We are going to bring fun, excitement and some powerful Vanquish pop songs to the tour. Can't wait to get on stage!"
The four-piece have been working with producers Rob Davis and Jorgen Elofsson for their debut album.
Between them, the producers have previously worked with the likes of Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue.
Vanquish's debut single 'The Harder You Love' will be released in April.
The boyband, who will embark on their 'Farewell Tour' of the UK and Ireland in May, confirmed that girl group Vanquish will open their shows.
Speaking about their appointment, the group said: "To be supporting Westlife on their final UK arena tour is an amazing feeling!
"We feel honoured to be part of this. We are going to bring fun, excitement and some powerful Vanquish pop songs to the tour. Can't wait to get on stage!"
The four-piece have been working with producers Rob Davis and Jorgen Elofsson for their debut album.
Between them, the producers have previously worked with the likes of Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue.
Vanquish's debut single 'The Harder You Love' will be released in April.
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Filan eyes solo career as financial ruin looms
Westlife star faces ?23m debt, but Louis Walsh says he'll bounce back
FIGHTER: Shane Filan,
will be 'the next Michael Buble', says Louis Walsh
Sunday April 08 2012
WESTLIFE singer Shane Filan faces losing everything in the property crash and is now set to relaunch his pop career in an attempt to revive his fortunes.
Filan, one of Ireland's biggest pop stars, is believed to be in debt for up to ?23m, according to well-placed financial sources.
The singer is reportedly in the process of cutting a deal with creditors by entering an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) in Britain.
Sources say he has employed a leading firm of London accountants and is currently negotiating financial arrangements with his banks -- including Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland -- as a way of avoiding bankruptcy.
An IVA is a way of having debt written off if existing assets are sold to raise money for creditors.
It is understood in financial circles that Filan is attempting to keep earnings from the impending Westlife farewell tour out of the current negotiations.
This weekend his manager Louis Walsh, although refusing to be drawn on a figure for the Sligo man's total losses in the property business, confirmed that the singer was about to start afresh.
"He's wiping the slate clean and starting over," said Walsh. "He is going to be fine.
"He has a massive solo deal in the pipeline and is going to be a massive, massive star.
"He is set to make millions from the Westlife farewell tour. They have sold out two dates at Croke Park -- that alone is huge -- and then he will make millions from the solo career too."
The manager also said that he would be standing by his number one pop star and helping to get him back on his feet:
"I am 100 per cent sticking by him through this. He is facing up to it and doing it [in] a very honourable and honest way. And you have to respect him for that."
He added: "Shane has something that you can't buy, that no one else in Ireland has. He has a million-dollar voice. He'll be okay.
"We're meeting with record companies and I'm going to make him the next Michael Buble.
"I have big plans for Shane, there is huge interest and you know me when I say to watch this space. Shane's future is very bright."
Both Filan and Walsh have been in talks with several record companies in London in recent days.
It is believed that at least four different labels are making a bid to sign the Sligo father of three and release his debut solo album at the end of next year.
As a source explained: "There's four, possibly five labels so far who have made it very clear that they want Shane.
"He already has loads of ideas about the kind of album he wants to make and the road he wants to go down.
"He and Louis have have had back-to-back meetings with the heads of the UK's biggest record companies and he has his pick of deals.
"It couldn't have come at a better time, just as he needs to start again. But Louis has taken him under his wing and will always look after him."
Sources say that the money-spinning Westlife farewell tour is set to net the band more than ?12m.
And Filan is thrashing out a deal so that this and all future earnings will remain untouched by his creditors.
The 32-year-old -- who has sold 43 million records worldwide with Westlife, one of the biggest boy bands of all time -- is currently being sued by Bank of Ireland for unpaid debts.
Filan auctioned off his James Bond-style Aston Martin for ?398,000 last September. He had bought it just two years earlier as a birthday present to himself.
A spokeswoman for the Westlife star said Filan would not be commenting.
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WERE more used to seeing them in smart suits but Westlife have donned the sweat pants to get in shape for their farewell tour.
The Mail can reveal that Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily have taken over a north Dublin dance studio in a bid to get festival fit.
The group have flown in a team of choreographers from London and are learning the gruelling routines that will make up the two-and-a-half hour show.
For the next five days they must watch what they eat and put in eight hours of intense rehearsals.
Its the worst part of touring for them, said an insider. They only have the week to get the steps and set list down completely. After that they will go their separate ways until the tour starts in May.
Yesterday was also the first time that all four members have come together since it emerged that Shane Filan was in serious financial trouble. Shanes property company Shafin Developments Ltd is believed to be in debt for up to [euro]23m and the singer is reportedly in the process of cutting a deal with creditors.
This was the firsttime he has been pictured on Irish soil since news broke three weeks ago. And Mark, Nicky and Kian all rallied around the singer.
A source said: A couple of smart comments were made that were taken in good spirit by Shane because thats the way the Westlife lads are.
But, to be honest, Shane is just happy to be back at work.
The Mail can reveal that Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily have taken over a north Dublin dance studio in a bid to get festival fit.
The group have flown in a team of choreographers from London and are learning the gruelling routines that will make up the two-and-a-half hour show.
For the next five days they must watch what they eat and put in eight hours of intense rehearsals.
Its the worst part of touring for them, said an insider. They only have the week to get the steps and set list down completely. After that they will go their separate ways until the tour starts in May.
Yesterday was also the first time that all four members have come together since it emerged that Shane Filan was in serious financial trouble. Shanes property company Shafin Developments Ltd is believed to be in debt for up to [euro]23m and the singer is reportedly in the process of cutting a deal with creditors.
This was the firsttime he has been pictured on Irish soil since news broke three weeks ago. And Mark, Nicky and Kian all rallied around the singer.
A source said: A couple of smart comments were made that were taken in good spirit by Shane because thats the way the Westlife lads are.
But, to be honest, Shane is just happy to be back at work.
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M KIAN ON BEING A ROCKER AGAIN; Star wants to form new band.
Byline: MAEVE QUIGLEY
KIAN Egan has revealed he wants to form a rock band when Westlife split.
The star has always said he would rather move into band management after the group hang up their microphones.
But after being a coach on The Voice, Kian revealed he wants to launch his own group.
He said of a singing career after Westlife: Coming into the show as a singer myself but in the background with Westlife, I always had a thing in my mind that no, I wouldnt.
But being around these people I kind of have a different attitude towards it.
Kian, 31, plays a number of instruments including guitar and piano and was a former member of Sligo punk rock group Skrod.
He said being around singers such as Shane Filan and Mark Feehily made him doubt his own abilities as a vocalist.
But the other coaches on The Voice Sharon Corr, Bressie and Brian Kennedy have helped him get his musical mojo back.
He added: I suppose when you are in one world and you are in a band like Westlife and are in a band with people like Shane and Mark who are amazing singers, your confidence gets put down.
But then when you get around more musical people like Brian, for me as a musical person Brian has put a lot of confidence in me.
After Westlife part ways, Nicky Byrne looks set to pursue a career in television while both Shane and Mark are going to record solo albums.
But Kian said: I dont think I would do a solo album, I think I would be in a rock band.
And insiders said theres a possibility he might ask one of his team to join him in his guitarladen endeavours.
One added: It could be that Kian might have his eye on Graham [Dowling] as a member of his band in the future.
Credit/Source: Irish Daily Mirror Published on 18.04.2012
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Music guru Cowell offers Filan solo deal after Westlife split.
Byline: SAM HAMILTON
X FACTOR supremo Simon Cowell is hoping to tempt Westlifes Shane Filan to sign with his label.
The music mogul, 52, has offered the bands lead singer a big-money offer with Syco Records.
But Shane, 32, also has two other labels battling it out to release his debut solo album after the Us Against The World band go their separate ways this summer.
If he did decide to sign with Simon, it would be a thawing in the bands frosty relationship with the pop guru after the group walked away from his label. A source said: Shane was always the best singer in the band and it seems Simon realises that.
It would turn a lot of heads if these two ended up working together. After Westlife go their separate ways, the only member of the band that Louis Walsh is going to be managing is Shane and he has a great relationship with Simon.
And while Simon can be a hard person to work with at times, he knows what he is talking about.
With the X Factor its only when artists stop listening to him that they flop.
So youd be sure if Shane went with Simon, hed definitely get a No1 album.
Dad-of-three Shane will be heading straight to the studio after saying goodbye at Westlifes final Croke Park gig with bandmates Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne in June.
Byline: SAM HAMILTON
X FACTOR supremo Simon Cowell is hoping to tempt Westlifes Shane Filan to sign with his label.
The music mogul, 52, has offered the bands lead singer a big-money offer with Syco Records.
But Shane, 32, also has two other labels battling it out to release his debut solo album after the Us Against The World band go their separate ways this summer.
If he did decide to sign with Simon, it would be a thawing in the bands frosty relationship with the pop guru after the group walked away from his label. A source said: Shane was always the best singer in the band and it seems Simon realises that.
It would turn a lot of heads if these two ended up working together. After Westlife go their separate ways, the only member of the band that Louis Walsh is going to be managing is Shane and he has a great relationship with Simon.
And while Simon can be a hard person to work with at times, he knows what he is talking about.
With the X Factor its only when artists stop listening to him that they flop.
So youd be sure if Shane went with Simon, hed definitely get a No1 album.
Dad-of-three Shane will be heading straight to the studio after saying goodbye at Westlifes final Croke Park gig with bandmates Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne in June.
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WESTLIFE star Mark Feehily claimed The Voice coach Kian Egan isnt mean in real life.
The gay star revealed he doesnt believe Kian is the Mr Nasty character people have made him out to be.
But the 31-year-old admitted his friend isnt as cruel in the recording studio with the rest of the band as he is on The Voice.
He added: I actually think Kian isnt that bad, and I think his comments are quite spot-on to be honest. But I do have to support him of course.
And Mark, who recently split from fiance Kevin McDaid, feels the bands split this summer is going to be bittersweet.
He said: Its quiet in terms of the Westlife stuff, but were always doing bits and pieces behind the scenes.
Weve got our final tour coming up which finishes in Croke Park. Its bittersweet because its going to be the best gigs of our life, but after that we finish up for good.
Credit/Source: Irish Daily Mirror published on 31.03.2012
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Wives join Westlife on tour bus for Farewell gigs
Monday 2012
IT'S a case of 'all aboard' the Westlife bus this week as the chart-toppers are joined by all their partners on their last ever tour.
THE four crooners have kicked off their Farewell tour and will play a string of arenas all over Britain before bringing it to Ireland this summer.
But as proof that the boys have definitely grown up, this time around they'll be bringing all their partners with them on the tour bus.
Nicky Byrne's other half Georgina said being able to travel around with the band made it much easier for them as a family.
"I wasn't able to get over to Cardiff because I had to mind the boys," she explained.
"But we are all going to the London gig and going out on the road with them for the week. I don't know how rock and roll the lads will think it is but all the wives are going on tour.
Special
"We will be piling into the tour bus each night with them after the shows and heading on the road. It is the last time they will be doing this together, so it will be special," she said.
However, she won't be stuck for company either, given that Shane's other half Gillian will also be there, as will Kian's wife Jodi Albert.
Nicky, Kian Egan, Shane Byrne and Mark Feehily kicked off their tour last week at Cardiff Motorpoint arena, performing to almost 10,000 fans. They'll now spend the next few weeks taking to the stage in major venues all over the UK before building up to the grand finale of their Croke Park concerts.
Such was the demand to see them performing to their home crowd that promoters had to add an extra date to their Dublin gigs on June 22 and June 23.
Last November saw the chart-toppers confirming they were going their separate ways after more than 14 years together.
In that time, they have sold over 45 million records and clocked up some 12 number one singles in Ireland.
The group was recently voted the best ever boyband during a two-week poll of an MTV audience of some 12 million viewers.
They beat off a total of 32 groups to the coveted title including rivals like The Wanted and Disney stars The Jonas Brothers.
mfinn@herald.ie
Monday 2012
IT'S a case of 'all aboard' the Westlife bus this week as the chart-toppers are joined by all their partners on their last ever tour.
THE four crooners have kicked off their Farewell tour and will play a string of arenas all over Britain before bringing it to Ireland this summer.
But as proof that the boys have definitely grown up, this time around they'll be bringing all their partners with them on the tour bus.
Nicky Byrne's other half Georgina said being able to travel around with the band made it much easier for them as a family.
"I wasn't able to get over to Cardiff because I had to mind the boys," she explained.
"But we are all going to the London gig and going out on the road with them for the week. I don't know how rock and roll the lads will think it is but all the wives are going on tour.
Special
"We will be piling into the tour bus each night with them after the shows and heading on the road. It is the last time they will be doing this together, so it will be special," she said.
However, she won't be stuck for company either, given that Shane's other half Gillian will also be there, as will Kian's wife Jodi Albert.
Nicky, Kian Egan, Shane Byrne and Mark Feehily kicked off their tour last week at Cardiff Motorpoint arena, performing to almost 10,000 fans. They'll now spend the next few weeks taking to the stage in major venues all over the UK before building up to the grand finale of their Croke Park concerts.
Such was the demand to see them performing to their home crowd that promoters had to add an extra date to their Dublin gigs on June 22 and June 23.
Last November saw the chart-toppers confirming they were going their separate ways after more than 14 years together.
In that time, they have sold over 45 million records and clocked up some 12 number one singles in Ireland.
The group was recently voted the best ever boyband during a two-week poll of an MTV audience of some 12 million viewers.
They beat off a total of 32 groups to the coveted title including rivals like The Wanted and Disney stars The Jonas Brothers.
mfinn@herald.ie
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Westlife singer Shane Filan is set to make his first solo album with record company Universal, according to reports.
Shane Filan to sign to Universal The 32-year-old singer who is currently on Westlife's farewell tour due to end in Croke Park this June is believed to have signed a deal with Universal, despite the bands 14-year long career with Sony Music.
It is believed that Mark Feehily will also make a solo album, while other band mates, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne are set to focus on television.
Kian Egan recently judged the Irish version of the hit US show, The Voice. While according to reports in the Daily Star, Nicky Byrne is in talks with US show, Dancing With The Stars.
In an interview earlier today with 98FM, Kian said: "I have been in talks with Sky amongst other people aswell about other TV projects. Nothing is in the bag, nothing is finalised. I haven't signed any contracts or anything like that - it's all talk at the minute. I signed up with a big agency in the UK. It's looking good. It's looking like I will probably be doing one or two more things in the UK in the coming months and the next year or so but to be honest, I'm not chasing anything. I don't want to be running after anything - if something comes up that feels natural, then I'll go for it"
Nicky Byrne, who will be playing tonight in Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena alongside the band as part of their farewell tour has tweeted a picture of two fans that got his autograph tattooed on their wrists hours after he signed them.
Byrne took to Twitter to say: "Signed two girls wrists in Cardiff earlier.. Came back out of the Arena two hrs later and they've had them Tattooed !!!"
.............
FANS couldn't get hold of tickets for Ireland's most successful boyband's farewell tour fast enough when they went on sale last October.
After tickets disappeared within a matter of minutes, Westlife decided to give a few more of their beloved Birmingham fans the chance to see them perform their greatest hits one last time and added an extra date to their current LG Arena visit.
Having decided to split after 14 years performing together, 26 top ten hits, 11 top five albums which have collectively sold 44 million copies, the additional concert next Friday, June 8, will see Kjan, Shane, Mark and Nicky perform their 14 number ones, among others, in Birmingham for the very last time.
The band, the only group in British and Irish pop history to reach number one with their first seven singles, also boast an impressive history of awards from Smash Hits to Top of the Pops and countless Brit Awards.
"It's almost hard to believe that we've been doing this for as long as we have," said the band.
"We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits album and performing them live on the tour as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career."
''''''''''''''''
Kian on Westlife swansong
Swansong ... Westlife By JENNIFER OBRIEN,
2012 WESTLIFE are getting emotional as they embark on their 5million farewell tour tonight and prepare to say goodbye to their boyband days forever.
2 comments And singer Kian Egan reckons there will be plenty of tears between the foursome after 16 years on the road.
He revealed: Its hard to believe that after so long together this will be the end.
I dont doubt that there will be tears and lots of them to be honest! We want to go out with a bang and make this the best tour we have ever had.
Kian, Shane, Nicky and Mark will take to the stage at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena tonight in front of nearly 10,000 fans.
And the rest of their farewell tour will see them take in dates all across the UK in May.
But the highlight will be their final gigs in Croke Park in June.
Kian, 32, said: I think for a lot of the nights they are going to be kicking us off the stage. Especially the ones at Croke Park we are not going to want to leave.
They fine you a serious amount of money there if you go over time something like ?10,000 a minute, but I know we are not going to want to get off that stage. Its going to be so emotional.
Kian showed fans another side of him when he appeared on RTEs The Voice as a coach.
And despite being thrown into rehearsals for the tour straight after the show, he loves being back with Westlife.
Kian, who recently became dad to baby Koa with wife Jodi Albert, said: Coming out of The Voice and straight into rehearsals is probably what bridged the gap for me.
Its exciting we are bringing in a lot of songs that we havent done in a long time like I Have a Dream. There will also be a medley as fans seem to love that.
The whole thing will be very high octane. We are going to try and bring in every element of Westlifes career and make it a Greatest Hits to remember.
The tour will be the last time the boyband perform as a four-piece after selling more than 45million records and 12 Irish No1 singles.
It has been eight years since Brian McFadden left the group and he now lives in Australia with his model fiancée Vogue Williams.
And despite rumours that Brian might come back, Kian insists it isnt going to happen.
He said: No. We love Brian, but he hasnt been a part of the band for such a long time.
For us it would be very weird to stand on the stage with him again, especially on our final tour.
For us its kind of like, he left us, we didnt leave him and for us, it just wouldnt feel right. I just dont think it would work.
Boyzone and Take That have reunited after years apart and are among the biggest bands in the world again. But Kian cant see Westlife reforming.
He said: I would find it difficult to think that we would never step on a stage together again but to make an album and go back on tour... I find it difficult to think that we would get back together.
Westlife were formed by Louis Walsh in 1998 when he took Sligo lads Kian, Mark and Shane from boyband IOU and put them with Dubliners Nicky and Brian.
Their first single Swear It Again shot in at No1 in April 1999. Looking back over their successes, Kian is glad he and the lads who have six kids between them made their families a priority.
He said: I think we all have a lifestyle thats very normal in a sense, we are only in the band six months of the year really anyway.
Nicky is in Malahide bringing his kids to school every day and Shane is over in London bringing his kids to school every day.
As for the future, Kian believes he and the other lads have made the right decision to go their separate ways. He said: Shane has solo plans, Mark probably will end up doing a solo album, Nicky is making TV shows and Im doing one or two things.
Its already kind of moving on. I do think that I have made the right decision.
As people we need to feel what life is like without Westlife because we have never experienced it. We dont know what the world is without Westlife
Swansong ... Westlife By JENNIFER OBRIEN,
2012 WESTLIFE are getting emotional as they embark on their 5million farewell tour tonight and prepare to say goodbye to their boyband days forever.
2 comments And singer Kian Egan reckons there will be plenty of tears between the foursome after 16 years on the road.
He revealed: Its hard to believe that after so long together this will be the end.
I dont doubt that there will be tears and lots of them to be honest! We want to go out with a bang and make this the best tour we have ever had.
Kian, Shane, Nicky and Mark will take to the stage at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena tonight in front of nearly 10,000 fans.
And the rest of their farewell tour will see them take in dates all across the UK in May.
But the highlight will be their final gigs in Croke Park in June.
Kian, 32, said: I think for a lot of the nights they are going to be kicking us off the stage. Especially the ones at Croke Park we are not going to want to leave.
They fine you a serious amount of money there if you go over time something like ?10,000 a minute, but I know we are not going to want to get off that stage. Its going to be so emotional.
Kian showed fans another side of him when he appeared on RTEs The Voice as a coach.
And despite being thrown into rehearsals for the tour straight after the show, he loves being back with Westlife.
Kian, who recently became dad to baby Koa with wife Jodi Albert, said: Coming out of The Voice and straight into rehearsals is probably what bridged the gap for me.
Its exciting we are bringing in a lot of songs that we havent done in a long time like I Have a Dream. There will also be a medley as fans seem to love that.
The whole thing will be very high octane. We are going to try and bring in every element of Westlifes career and make it a Greatest Hits to remember.
The tour will be the last time the boyband perform as a four-piece after selling more than 45million records and 12 Irish No1 singles.
It has been eight years since Brian McFadden left the group and he now lives in Australia with his model fiancée Vogue Williams.
And despite rumours that Brian might come back, Kian insists it isnt going to happen.
He said: No. We love Brian, but he hasnt been a part of the band for such a long time.
For us it would be very weird to stand on the stage with him again, especially on our final tour.
For us its kind of like, he left us, we didnt leave him and for us, it just wouldnt feel right. I just dont think it would work.
Boyzone and Take That have reunited after years apart and are among the biggest bands in the world again. But Kian cant see Westlife reforming.
He said: I would find it difficult to think that we would never step on a stage together again but to make an album and go back on tour... I find it difficult to think that we would get back together.
Westlife were formed by Louis Walsh in 1998 when he took Sligo lads Kian, Mark and Shane from boyband IOU and put them with Dubliners Nicky and Brian.
Their first single Swear It Again shot in at No1 in April 1999. Looking back over their successes, Kian is glad he and the lads who have six kids between them made their families a priority.
He said: I think we all have a lifestyle thats very normal in a sense, we are only in the band six months of the year really anyway.
Nicky is in Malahide bringing his kids to school every day and Shane is over in London bringing his kids to school every day.
As for the future, Kian believes he and the other lads have made the right decision to go their separate ways. He said: Shane has solo plans, Mark probably will end up doing a solo album, Nicky is making TV shows and Im doing one or two things.
Its already kind of moving on. I do think that I have made the right decision.
As people we need to feel what life is like without Westlife because we have never experienced it. We dont know what the world is without Westlife
''''''''''''''''
Only a few weeks left now until Westlife are no more .they play Cardiff tonight and they only have about 2 or 3 days where they wont be doing a show before the final concerts on the 22nd and 23rd of June at Croke Park.
So the next thing for the lads is figuring out what to do next we know that Shane Filan will be focusing on a solo career as will Mark Feehily and it seems after his stint on The Voice of Ireland, Kian Egan has been getting some TV presenting offers over in the UK so are the rumours true?
Kian told 98FM I have been in talks with Sky amongst other people aswell about other TV projects. Nothing is in the bag, nothing is finalised. I havent signed any contracts or anything like that its all talk at the minute. I signed up with a big agency in the UK. Its looking good. Its looking like I will probably be doing one or two more things in the UK in the coming months and the next year or so but to be honest, Im not chasing anything. I dont want to be running after anything if something comes up that feels natural, then Ill go for it.
';;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
The Irish version of Footballs Next Star has wrapped filming and is currently in post-production at Screen Scene in Dublin.
Produced by Tyrone Productions for RTÉ, the show finished filming last weekend with scenes shot in locations including Dublin, Limerick and Glasgow. The show follows 10 talented young soccer hopefuls who battle it out to win a place at Celtics Youth Academy in Glasgow.
Westlife singer Nicky Byrne is the shows presenter, with the format originally developed by Sky TV. The Irish version for Tyrone has been directed by Paul Golding (Strictly Come Dancing). Noleen Golding (OMG! Jedwards Dream Factory) is the producer, while Patricia Carroll is the executive producer for Tyrone.
Eight 25-minute episodes of the series are scheduled to broadcast on RTE Two in September.
''''''''''''''''''
SHANE Filan is to make his first solo album with Universal, despite Westlife enjoying a 14-year career with rival label Sony.
The 32-year-old is on the manbands farewell tour but is already plotting a debut disc away from the group.
Mark Feehily, 32, is also expected to make an album, while bandmates Nicky Byrne, 33, and Kian Egan, 32, focus on television.
Ive already revealed how Nicky is in talks with US show Dancing With The Stars.
';;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Westlife, Motorpoint Arena
Tuesday 15th May 2012 in Entertainments By Chris Sharpe
What a fantastic night of entertainment!
The show opened with Glenn Cal, an Irish male singer who is very talented and performed really well.
An all-girl band, Vanquish, performed a variety of songs, and from their act it is possible they are the next Girls Aloud/Saturdays. perhaps!
Also on stage were the popular Lilygreen & Maguire.
This is the second time I have had the pleasure of seeing this duo (first time when they supported Olly Murs) and they have a great vibe, stage presence and are charming and charismatic. They gave a great show and if you get the chance I would highly recommend you catch them when the opportunity arises. Great young Welsh talent.
But the act everyone was waiting for was, of course, Westlife.
And despite technical problems which meant a break in the show for around 20 minutes or so the band are just WOW! They were amazing and performed all their best-known songs.
I love this band so much I can¹t wait to see them again next month in Sheffield, while Welsh fans have the chance to see the band at the Motorpoint with a couple of dates lined up next month.
Tuesday 15th May 2012 in Entertainments By Chris Sharpe
What a fantastic night of entertainment!
The show opened with Glenn Cal, an Irish male singer who is very talented and performed really well.
An all-girl band, Vanquish, performed a variety of songs, and from their act it is possible they are the next Girls Aloud/Saturdays. perhaps!
Also on stage were the popular Lilygreen & Maguire.
This is the second time I have had the pleasure of seeing this duo (first time when they supported Olly Murs) and they have a great vibe, stage presence and are charming and charismatic. They gave a great show and if you get the chance I would highly recommend you catch them when the opportunity arises. Great young Welsh talent.
But the act everyone was waiting for was, of course, Westlife.
And despite technical problems which meant a break in the show for around 20 minutes or so the band are just WOW! They were amazing and performed all their best-known songs.
I love this band so much I can¹t wait to see them again next month in Sheffield, while Welsh fans have the chance to see the band at the Motorpoint with a couple of dates lined up next month.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given took to twitter to thank his celebrity pals who supported his Fashion Kicks fundraiser in Manchester.
Warnock bid £10,000 to appear on stage on the night with Wesltife. And the 30-year-old Aston Villa defender even managed to upstage singer Shane Filan with his rendition of Mack The Knife.
..............
The evening - hosted by Shay and Jane Given, and said to offer a night of 'fashion, football, food and entertainment' - also attracted the attention of the recently-parted Westlife.
Kian Egan's wife Jodi Albert looked fantastic having just given birth last December, while Shane Filan's partner and mother of his three children Gillian looked like a Sixites bombshell in yellow.
..................
Nicky Byrne attended with wife Georgina
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REVIEW: Westlife all fired up on final tour at Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
Westlife performing at Sheffield Arena on their farewell tour.
Published on Tuesday 15 May 2012
FLAMING eck! Chart kings Westlife really were fired-up for the first of three goodbye concerts in Sheffield - when figures of Irelands fab four went up in flames to signal the end, writes Graham Walker
And that was just the start of this spectacular last production at the Motorpoint Arena.
After 14 years of pop domination, Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne finally emerged for real, opening with What Makes A Man and then took fans on a trip down a memory lane of hits, complete with synchronised dance moves.
The sing-a-long included highlights Uptown Girl, Queen of My Heart, When Youre Looking Like That, Mandy, You Raise Me Up, World Of Our Own and fitting finale, Flying Without Wings.
At one stage the band ended up soaring across the Arena floor on a makeshift spaceship, as they jetted in to party.
This was never going to be a sombre farewell.
Lets face it, they had a lot to celebrate in an hour and 45 minutes, what with 26 top ten hits, including 14 number one singles, 11 top five albums, seven of which hit the top spot and over 44 million record sales, with 10 sell out tours.
Its difficult to image Westlife getting booed, especially by their own fans. But booed they were at any mention that this was the end.
In truth its probably a well-earned break and when Shane insisted this isnt goodbye, the roar of approval from fans almost raised the roof.
Westlife will be back in Sheffield for two final shows, on Saturday, May 19 and Tuesday, June 12.
Tickets priced £41.50 are limited. See www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk or call 0114 256 56 56 to book.
Set list: What About Now; What Makes A Man; My Love; Safe; Uptown Girl; If I Let You Go; Aint That a Kick in the Head; Queen Of My Heart; Unbreakable; (Medley) I Gotta Feeling, Sex On Fire, Dont Cha, Let Me Entertain You, Bohemian Rhapsody; When Youre Looking Like That; Mandy; Seasons in the Sun; Swear It Again; Home; Encore: You Raise Me Up; World Of Our Own; Flying Without Wings.
Related Articles
Star treatment as Westlife fan Katie goes backstage in Sheffield
WESTLIFE fan Katie Taylor did not just get front row seats - she also went backstage to meet the band, thanks to The Star.
Westlife performing at Sheffield Arena on their farewell tour.
Published on Tuesday 15 May 2012
FLAMING eck! Chart kings Westlife really were fired-up for the first of three goodbye concerts in Sheffield - when figures of Irelands fab four went up in flames to signal the end, writes Graham Walker
And that was just the start of this spectacular last production at the Motorpoint Arena.
After 14 years of pop domination, Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne finally emerged for real, opening with What Makes A Man and then took fans on a trip down a memory lane of hits, complete with synchronised dance moves.
The sing-a-long included highlights Uptown Girl, Queen of My Heart, When Youre Looking Like That, Mandy, You Raise Me Up, World Of Our Own and fitting finale, Flying Without Wings.
At one stage the band ended up soaring across the Arena floor on a makeshift spaceship, as they jetted in to party.
This was never going to be a sombre farewell.
Lets face it, they had a lot to celebrate in an hour and 45 minutes, what with 26 top ten hits, including 14 number one singles, 11 top five albums, seven of which hit the top spot and over 44 million record sales, with 10 sell out tours.
Its difficult to image Westlife getting booed, especially by their own fans. But booed they were at any mention that this was the end.
In truth its probably a well-earned break and when Shane insisted this isnt goodbye, the roar of approval from fans almost raised the roof.
Westlife will be back in Sheffield for two final shows, on Saturday, May 19 and Tuesday, June 12.
Tickets priced £41.50 are limited. See www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk or call 0114 256 56 56 to book.
Set list: What About Now; What Makes A Man; My Love; Safe; Uptown Girl; If I Let You Go; Aint That a Kick in the Head; Queen Of My Heart; Unbreakable; (Medley) I Gotta Feeling, Sex On Fire, Dont Cha, Let Me Entertain You, Bohemian Rhapsody; When Youre Looking Like That; Mandy; Seasons in the Sun; Swear It Again; Home; Encore: You Raise Me Up; World Of Our Own; Flying Without Wings.
Related Articles
Star treatment as Westlife fan Katie goes backstage in Sheffield
WESTLIFE fan Katie Taylor did not just get front row seats - she also went backstage to meet the band, thanks to The Star.
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WESTLIFE are gearing up for rehearsals for their final ever tour. Entertainment Editor Gordon Barr previews their two Newcastle shows.
WHEN Westlife take to the stage of the Metro Radio Arena on May 14 it will mark their 31st appearance there.
They hold the record for most shows at the venue but are not content with just 31 come June they will make their 32nd trip there as part of their farewell Greatest Hits tour.
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FAREWELLS dont always have to be sad. Richard Neale saw Westlife prove they can be entertaining, energetic and most of all fun.
THE fact the band known by some as them boys who sit on chairs and sing covers have lasted for 14 years probably says enough about their popularity and talent as any other statistic.
But for those who love a stat, the band have had 26 top ten-hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top five albums, seven of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44 million copies around the world, not to mention 10 sell-out tours.
Westlife wow fans at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena
And while other boy bands from 14 years ago are consigned to grubby fading posters in former fans garages, the boys from Ireland have managed to keep their huge fanbase more than happy while picking up a few others along the way.
And that is why, having already having performed at the Metro Radio Arena more than 30 times, the group have had to add an extra date to the city for their farewell tour.
And if its anything as good as the first date last night, fans will be in for a treat as all those years of experience performing concerts were put to great use.
Its a sad time for the boys and their fans but, after such a long time they wanted and deserved to go out on a high.
And that they did.
Shane has previously told we know we can sing. And for any who doubted that (nobody in last nights audience obviously), Nicky, Mark and Kian proved his point, with favourites such as Uptown Girl and Flying Without Wings.
Not that they needed to of course. Their adoring fans were happy to take the lead and fill in the word, verse or chorus of any and all songs when requested.
Not that they always did what the lads wanted. Welcome to the farewell tour was greeted with a chorus of boos from a public who want more years.
But the night wasnt about saying goodbye in a sad way.
We want this to be fun the full to bursting arena was told.
And it was.
................
FAREWELLS dont always have to be sad. Richard Neale saw Westlife prove they can be entertaining, energetic and most of all fun.
From the start the night was all fun.
A simple silhouette of the lads behind the curtain whipped the crowd into a frenzy only for the curtain to reveal four burning effigies instead of the expected foursome.
During one break Nicky took time to read the banners fully knowing they always find a new level of depravity in the North East but enjoying every saucy comment. And when one woman asked them to fit into a pair of huge over-sized bloomers the boys duly obliged. This group are still great friends one of the reasons they want to give up now while theyre on top and happy. And theyre happy to have a laugh at themselves surely the dance moves were a nod to those who have had a go at this aspect of their performing.
But who needs to dance when they can entertain so well even covering huge modern hits like Black Eyed Peas Tonights Going To Be a Good Night and Bohemian Rhapsody (with obligatory horrible dance moves).
And for those fans sitting at the back, the circle was brought back with the lads flying across the Arena, making sure the back row became the front row and everyone got a good look at them performing... now there are no health and safety considerations to worry about.
In 2002 Westlife stood on this stage on their first tour. It was called dreams come true and they certainly did.
Nobody was sitting in their chair last night, and the tears were flowing as the famous four said their own personal farewells.
And fans will certainly be on the edge of their seats hoping one of the most successful boy bands of the last decade turn out again on the almost obligatory reunion tour sometime soon.
.............
Westlife have a devoted following whose admiration for the boys appears to the more casual observer to be somewhat out of proportion to their musical impact. True, the boys all have good voices, with Shane and Mark clearly some way ahead of the other two, as well as a decent line in banter and a sense of fun which goes down well with the enthusiastic crowd. What's not to like about Nicky reading out the rudest banners in the crowd? There's plenty of fire and fireworks, an obligatory journey above the heads of the crowd to visit the punters at the back of the Arena, and the excellent backing musicians are tighter than the buttons on Mark's jacket.
And yet - should a band which has been going 14 years really have to puff out the middle of a concert with a medley of other people's hits? Especially when a significant proportion of their own hits are already covers. It did up the tempo bit, but in that case why not play some of the bands' own livelier material?
Obviously none of this matters to 99% to those who were at the Arena, a venue which Westlife have already played 15 times. They came to hear the greatest hits, they got exactly that, and they went away happy.
And so, too, off went Westlife, into the night; with wistful looks over their shoulders, and a sadness borne of the knowledge that they will never perform in this fair city again. Oh, except for their added date in a couple of weeks' time.
Westlife will be back at the Capital FM Arena on June 5 as part of their Farewell Tour.
...............
Shane, Nicky, Kian and Mark announced last year that they will go their separate ways, after 14 years together.
But before they go they will play five dates at Belfast's Odyssey Arena, a city where they have performed 60 times previously.
It is the final tour for the band, which has sold more than 44 million records worldwide, and Westlife will play their last concert at Dublin's Croke Park next month.
Their closing gig will be screened at cinemas across the globe in countries including South Africa, Finland and the Netherlands.
The boys, who were originally signed by Simon Cowell and managed by Louis Walsh, have topped the UK charts 14 times.
Westlife started on the road to pop success in 1998 with five members, but in 2004 Brian McFadden left the group to focus on solo projects.
.................
There were a few tears flowing at the Odyssey Arena when Westlife took to the stage for very last time in Belfast last night
Twelve years, ten albums and 44million sales into their career, Westlife came to a crossroads earlier this year.
The group's original line-up was Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was part of the group until 2004. Westlife have sold over 45 million records worldwide which includes studio albums, singles, video release, and compilation albums. Despite the group's worldwide success, they only have one hit single in the United States, "Swear It Again", which peaked in 2000 on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 20.
The band were originally signed by Simon Cowell and are managed by Louis Walsh. The group have accumulated 14 number-one singles in the United Kingdom, the third-highest in UK history, tying with Cliff Richard. The group had also broken a few records, including "Music artist with most consecutive number 1's in the UK", which consists of their first seven singles and only behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. The band have 14 UK number ones and 25 top ten singles, consisting of 20.2 million records and videos in the UK across their 14-year career - 6.8 million singles, 11.9 million albums and 1.5 million videos.
On 1 June 2008, Westlife marked their tenth anniversary with a concert in Croke Park, Dublin which had more than 83,000 fans attending the special occasion. Music Week revealed on their website that Westlife are the official third top touring act within the years 2005?2008, while they were seventh top touring act of 2008.
Also in 2008, they were declared Ireland's ninth-richest celebrities under 30 years old and thirteenth in general with 36 million euros as a group. In 2009, they dropped as sixteenth richest Irish with estimated 8 million euros each. They were named as the fourth most hard-working music artist in UK by PRS in 2010.[5] In August 2011, it was reported in the Irish Examiner that the profits of the band's firm grew five-fold in 2010.
On 19 October 2011, Westlife announced they were to split after their Greatest Hits was released on 21 November 2011 it debuted in Ireland at number1 for 1 week and debuted and peaked at number 4 in the UK and a farewell tour in Spring 2012.
The band recently won the coveted poll of MTV.com Battle of the Boybands. After five rounds and competing with 32 boybands, Westlife won over 74% at the final round.
//////////////////////
And yet - should a band which has been going 14 years really have to puff out the middle of a concert with a medley of other people's hits? Especially when a significant proportion of their own hits are already covers. It did up the tempo bit, but in that case why not play some of the bands' own livelier material?
Obviously none of this matters to 99% to those who were at the Arena, a venue which Westlife have already played 15 times. They came to hear the greatest hits, they got exactly that, and they went away happy.
And so, too, off went Westlife, into the night; with wistful looks over their shoulders, and a sadness borne of the knowledge that they will never perform in this fair city again. Oh, except for their added date in a couple of weeks' time.
Westlife will be back at the Capital FM Arena on June 5 as part of their Farewell Tour.
...............
Shane, Nicky, Kian and Mark announced last year that they will go their separate ways, after 14 years together.
But before they go they will play five dates at Belfast's Odyssey Arena, a city where they have performed 60 times previously.
It is the final tour for the band, which has sold more than 44 million records worldwide, and Westlife will play their last concert at Dublin's Croke Park next month.
Their closing gig will be screened at cinemas across the globe in countries including South Africa, Finland and the Netherlands.
The boys, who were originally signed by Simon Cowell and managed by Louis Walsh, have topped the UK charts 14 times.
Westlife started on the road to pop success in 1998 with five members, but in 2004 Brian McFadden left the group to focus on solo projects.
.................
There were a few tears flowing at the Odyssey Arena when Westlife took to the stage for very last time in Belfast last night
Twelve years, ten albums and 44million sales into their career, Westlife came to a crossroads earlier this year.
The group's original line-up was Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was part of the group until 2004. Westlife have sold over 45 million records worldwide which includes studio albums, singles, video release, and compilation albums. Despite the group's worldwide success, they only have one hit single in the United States, "Swear It Again", which peaked in 2000 on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 20.
The band were originally signed by Simon Cowell and are managed by Louis Walsh. The group have accumulated 14 number-one singles in the United Kingdom, the third-highest in UK history, tying with Cliff Richard. The group had also broken a few records, including "Music artist with most consecutive number 1's in the UK", which consists of their first seven singles and only behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. The band have 14 UK number ones and 25 top ten singles, consisting of 20.2 million records and videos in the UK across their 14-year career - 6.8 million singles, 11.9 million albums and 1.5 million videos.
On 1 June 2008, Westlife marked their tenth anniversary with a concert in Croke Park, Dublin which had more than 83,000 fans attending the special occasion. Music Week revealed on their website that Westlife are the official third top touring act within the years 2005?2008, while they were seventh top touring act of 2008.
Also in 2008, they were declared Ireland's ninth-richest celebrities under 30 years old and thirteenth in general with 36 million euros as a group. In 2009, they dropped as sixteenth richest Irish with estimated 8 million euros each. They were named as the fourth most hard-working music artist in UK by PRS in 2010.[5] In August 2011, it was reported in the Irish Examiner that the profits of the band's firm grew five-fold in 2010.
On 19 October 2011, Westlife announced they were to split after their Greatest Hits was released on 21 November 2011 it debuted in Ireland at number1 for 1 week and debuted and peaked at number 4 in the UK and a farewell tour in Spring 2012.
The band recently won the coveted poll of MTV.com Battle of the Boybands. After five rounds and competing with 32 boybands, Westlife won over 74% at the final round.
//////////////////////
Westlife record song for Niamh Curry's funeralContinue reading the main story
Related Stories
Winehouse shirt sells for £3,000
Cancer treatment battle girl dies
About 300 people have paid tribute to five-year-old Niamh Curry, who died from a rare form of cancer.
Pop stars Westlife recorded a message of condolence and an acoustic version of their Number One hit Unbreakable for the funeral at Kettering Crematorium.
Niamh was well known in the county for her and her family's work campaigning for awareness and funding to treat her neuroblastoma.
Her charity, Niamh's Next Step, attracted support from Westlife.
'Amazing little girl'
When news of her death on 20 May was announced on social media networks, the group was so moved they recorded the song and a message that paid tribute to an "amazing little girl" who had been an inspiration.
They said they had been "very sad" to learn of her death.
Niamh was was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2010 when she was three. She underwent several bouts of medication, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and an operation to remove a tumour, but the cancer returned at the end of 2011.
Her family were due to take her to Philadelphia to receive specialist care in September but she developed an infection which gave way to severe pneumonia.
.................
Mark Feehily Celebrates Birthday During Westlife Show
Westlife star Mark Feehily was given an early birthday treat on Sunday (27May12) when he was serenaded by the audience at the group's arena show in Scotland.
The Irish singer turns 32 on Monday (28May12), and he has been given a night off from the band's The Greatest Hits Tour to enjoy his big day.
However, the crowd at the band's Sunday show at the Glasgow Secc venue treated Feehily to a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday during the performance, much to the star's delight.
In a post on his Twitter.com page, he writes, "Glasgow u were great, thanks for singing Happy Birthday to me 'n' all."
............
Westlife singer Kian Egan admits that he's feeling nervous about the group's farewell gig in Croke Park.
Saturday Jun 2 2012
Singer Kian Egan confesses that he's already feeling nostalgic about the band's farewell gigs in Croke Park.
The 32-year-old, who became a father for the first time last year, says it?s not the singing that?s giving him butterflies, but the actual event itself.
?It?s just so huge ? it?s being broadcast in cinemas all over the world, with a live feed into all the cinemas in the UK, Ireland, Europe and Asia,? he says. ?It?s going to be in Australia and New Zealand. There?s even talk about showing it in America at the minute.?
The group will play two sell-out shows in Croke Park in three weeks time.
The ?Voice of Ireland? judge is also feeling emotional about the fact that this is the last time Westlife, who have been together for 14 years, will sing as a group.
?It does feel pretty sad knowing this going to be the last time ? we?re all sad about it,? he says. ?But I think at the moment we?re just trying to enjoy it and not dwell too much on it,? he told The Irish Daily Mirror.
But he is looking forward to spending more time with wife, Jodi Albert and son Koa.
?It?s going to be a bit of time for me to just spend with my family and not have work commitments pulling me away from them,? the singer says. ?It?ll be nice to be able to sit back and enjoy the memories as well and watch the DVDs of our gigs gone by and chill out with it all.?
''''''''''''''''
THE farewell concert by Irish pop band Westlife is to be screened live at the cinema in Galashiels.
The group, who announced last October they were splitting after 14 years, are set to bow out with a final concert at Dublin's Croke Park on Saturday, June 23.
The event will be beamed at more than 200 cinemas in nine countries including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Norway.
The band, whose 14 UK number ones include 1999 hit Flying Without Wings, have sold more than 44 million records worldwide. Organisers said tickets for the concert sold out in minutes.
///////////////
Mark Feehily Celebrates Birthday During Westlife Show
Westlife star Mark Feehily was given an early birthday treat on Sunday (27May12) when he was serenaded by the audience at the group's arena show in Scotland.
The Irish singer turns 32 on Monday (28May12), and he has been given a night off from the band's The Greatest Hits Tour to enjoy his big day.
However, the crowd at the band's Sunday show at the Glasgow Secc venue treated Feehily to a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday during the performance, much to the star's delight.
In a post on his Twitter.com page, he writes, "Glasgow u were great, thanks for singing Happy Birthday to me 'n' all."
''''''''''''''''''''''
Westlife singer Kian Egan admits that he's feeling nervous about the group's farewell gig in Croke Park.
Saturday Jun 2 2012
Singer Kian Egan confesses that he's already feeling nostalgic about the band's farewell gigs in Croke Park.
The 32-year-old, who became a father for the first time last year, says it?s not the singing that?s giving him butterflies, but the actual event itself.
?It?s just so huge ? it?s being broadcast in cinemas all over the world, with a live feed into all the cinemas in the UK, Ireland, Europe and Asia,? he says. ?It?s going to be in Australia and New Zealand. There?s even talk about showing it in America at the minute.?
The group will play two sell-out shows in Croke Park in three weeks time.
The ?Voice of Ireland? judge is also feeling emotional about the fact that this is the last time Westlife, who have been together for 14 years, will sing as a group.
?It does feel pretty sad knowing this going to be the last time ? we?re all sad about it,? he says. ?But I think at the moment we?re just trying to enjoy it and not dwell too much on it,? he told The Irish Daily
Related Stories
Winehouse shirt sells for £3,000
Cancer treatment battle girl dies
About 300 people have paid tribute to five-year-old Niamh Curry, who died from a rare form of cancer.
Pop stars Westlife recorded a message of condolence and an acoustic version of their Number One hit Unbreakable for the funeral at Kettering Crematorium.
Niamh was well known in the county for her and her family's work campaigning for awareness and funding to treat her neuroblastoma.
Her charity, Niamh's Next Step, attracted support from Westlife.
'Amazing little girl'
When news of her death on 20 May was announced on social media networks, the group was so moved they recorded the song and a message that paid tribute to an "amazing little girl" who had been an inspiration.
They said they had been "very sad" to learn of her death.
Niamh was was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2010 when she was three. She underwent several bouts of medication, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and an operation to remove a tumour, but the cancer returned at the end of 2011.
Her family were due to take her to Philadelphia to receive specialist care in September but she developed an infection which gave way to severe pneumonia.
.................
Mark Feehily Celebrates Birthday During Westlife Show
Westlife star Mark Feehily was given an early birthday treat on Sunday (27May12) when he was serenaded by the audience at the group's arena show in Scotland.
The Irish singer turns 32 on Monday (28May12), and he has been given a night off from the band's The Greatest Hits Tour to enjoy his big day.
However, the crowd at the band's Sunday show at the Glasgow Secc venue treated Feehily to a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday during the performance, much to the star's delight.
In a post on his Twitter.com page, he writes, "Glasgow u were great, thanks for singing Happy Birthday to me 'n' all."
............
Westlife singer Kian Egan admits that he's feeling nervous about the group's farewell gig in Croke Park.
Saturday Jun 2 2012
Singer Kian Egan confesses that he's already feeling nostalgic about the band's farewell gigs in Croke Park.
The 32-year-old, who became a father for the first time last year, says it?s not the singing that?s giving him butterflies, but the actual event itself.
?It?s just so huge ? it?s being broadcast in cinemas all over the world, with a live feed into all the cinemas in the UK, Ireland, Europe and Asia,? he says. ?It?s going to be in Australia and New Zealand. There?s even talk about showing it in America at the minute.?
The group will play two sell-out shows in Croke Park in three weeks time.
The ?Voice of Ireland? judge is also feeling emotional about the fact that this is the last time Westlife, who have been together for 14 years, will sing as a group.
?It does feel pretty sad knowing this going to be the last time ? we?re all sad about it,? he says. ?But I think at the moment we?re just trying to enjoy it and not dwell too much on it,? he told The Irish Daily Mirror.
But he is looking forward to spending more time with wife, Jodi Albert and son Koa.
?It?s going to be a bit of time for me to just spend with my family and not have work commitments pulling me away from them,? the singer says. ?It?ll be nice to be able to sit back and enjoy the memories as well and watch the DVDs of our gigs gone by and chill out with it all.?
''''''''''''''''
THE farewell concert by Irish pop band Westlife is to be screened live at the cinema in Galashiels.
The group, who announced last October they were splitting after 14 years, are set to bow out with a final concert at Dublin's Croke Park on Saturday, June 23.
The event will be beamed at more than 200 cinemas in nine countries including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Norway.
The band, whose 14 UK number ones include 1999 hit Flying Without Wings, have sold more than 44 million records worldwide. Organisers said tickets for the concert sold out in minutes.
///////////////
Mark Feehily Celebrates Birthday During Westlife Show
Westlife star Mark Feehily was given an early birthday treat on Sunday (27May12) when he was serenaded by the audience at the group's arena show in Scotland.
The Irish singer turns 32 on Monday (28May12), and he has been given a night off from the band's The Greatest Hits Tour to enjoy his big day.
However, the crowd at the band's Sunday show at the Glasgow Secc venue treated Feehily to a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday during the performance, much to the star's delight.
In a post on his Twitter.com page, he writes, "Glasgow u were great, thanks for singing Happy Birthday to me 'n' all."
''''''''''''''''''''''
Westlife singer Kian Egan admits that he's feeling nervous about the group's farewell gig in Croke Park.
Saturday Jun 2 2012
Singer Kian Egan confesses that he's already feeling nostalgic about the band's farewell gigs in Croke Park.
The 32-year-old, who became a father for the first time last year, says it?s not the singing that?s giving him butterflies, but the actual event itself.
?It?s just so huge ? it?s being broadcast in cinemas all over the world, with a live feed into all the cinemas in the UK, Ireland, Europe and Asia,? he says. ?It?s going to be in Australia and New Zealand. There?s even talk about showing it in America at the minute.?
The group will play two sell-out shows in Croke Park in three weeks time.
The ?Voice of Ireland? judge is also feeling emotional about the fact that this is the last time Westlife, who have been together for 14 years, will sing as a group.
?It does feel pretty sad knowing this going to be the last time ? we?re all sad about it,? he says. ?But I think at the moment we?re just trying to enjoy it and not dwell too much on it,? he told The Irish Daily
Geschreven door westlife om 01:34
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Woensdag 20 november 2013
Westlife visited a giant panda
Westlife visited a giant panda breeding sanctuary in China on their farewell tour – and they actually got to cuddle one
Geschreven door westlife om 00:46
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westlife --- 2012 tour foto,s
WESTLIFE PLAY their last-ever concert
at Croke Park in Dublin, bringing to an end a massively successful 14-year career that saw them selling 44 million records and selling out arenas around the world
at Croke Park in Dublin, bringing to an end a massively successful 14-year career that saw them selling 44 million records and selling out arenas around the world
Geschreven door westlife om 00:39
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Belfast Concert: 20 June 2012 afbeelding
Geschreven door westlife om 00:20
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Woensdag 20 november 2013
nicky byrne beeld
Geschreven door westlife om 00:00
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Woensdag 20 november 2013
MARK FEEHILY IN BEELD
Geschreven door westlife om 00:00
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Woensdag 20 november 2013
NICKY BYRNE - after westlife 2
WESTLIFE'S
Nicky Byrne has joined Giovanni Trapattoni's critics in suggesting Ireland needs a new manager.
The singer insisted the time for 73-year-old Trapattoni to step down has come.
POP hunk Nicky Byrne thought his world had caved in when he was rejected by Everton as a teenager.
The ex-Westlife star was set to sign for the Premier League giants as a goalkeeper before they decided against the move.
The 33-year-old will present the Irish version of reality series Football’s Next Star when it hits RTE screens next month.
And the doting dad of two believes his own experience will help him relNicky Byrne believes Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh is his biggest competitor on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Nicky Byrne considers Kimberley Walsh his biggest "rival" on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The Westlife star - who is partnered with newcomer Karen Hauer on the show - claims the Girls Aloud singer is his greatest competitor because they are both from band backgrounds and both experiencing a similar level of nerves.
He said: "When I was on tour with Westlife, we danced but we didn't have anyone judging us and it was all a bit of fun. This is completely different.
"Kimberley Walsh form Girls Aloud is in a similar position to me, only she went to stage school too. I love all the rivalry that is going on with Kimberley and I."
However, his dancing prowess has led him to get a nickname from his family - Glitterballs.
He joked: "My wife is buzzing with excitement. She will come to all the shows - we are very much a team.
"Her sister Cecelia nicknamed m Glitterballs and now that's the running joke in my family. I like to put a smile on their faces."
....ate to the youngsters vying for a professional contract.
Nicky explained: “When we were filming the show it brought back loads of memories because I know what they’re going through, I’ve been there.
“I know all about getting dropped and that’s because it’s happened to me.
“Everton were allegedly set to sign me because I’d done a goalkeeping course with Neville Southall and done well, and then I got dropped for the final and that was that.
“I was devastated. It’s tough, you think that’s that and your whole world is ruined but life is about disappointments and picking yourself back up. It happened with Leeds and in League of Ireland but you dust yourself down and move on.
“That’s why when we were filming this I was able to relate to the lads and empathise with them.
“I grew close to the guys and of course it was tough when they got eliminated but they’re all very talented guys with bright futures.”
Byrne was signed by Leeds United when he was 16 before moving into music. The RTE version of the UK reality show will see ten young footballers battle for one place at Celtic’s Youth Academy, headed by ex-footie star Chris McCart.
And Nicky revealed: “I’m very proud to say we really did unearth a true gem in our winner.”
FOOTBALL’S Next Star will start on Friday on RTE Two at 5pm.
The ex-Westlife star was set to sign for the Premier League giants as a goalkeeper before they decided against the move.
The 33-year-old will present the Irish version of reality series Football’s Next Star when it hits RTE screens next month.
And the doting dad of two believes his own experience will help him relNicky Byrne believes Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh is his biggest competitor on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Nicky Byrne considers Kimberley Walsh his biggest "rival" on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The Westlife star - who is partnered with newcomer Karen Hauer on the show - claims the Girls Aloud singer is his greatest competitor because they are both from band backgrounds and both experiencing a similar level of nerves.
He said: "When I was on tour with Westlife, we danced but we didn't have anyone judging us and it was all a bit of fun. This is completely different.
"Kimberley Walsh form Girls Aloud is in a similar position to me, only she went to stage school too. I love all the rivalry that is going on with Kimberley and I."
However, his dancing prowess has led him to get a nickname from his family - Glitterballs.
He joked: "My wife is buzzing with excitement. She will come to all the shows - we are very much a team.
"Her sister Cecelia nicknamed m Glitterballs and now that's the running joke in my family. I like to put a smile on their faces."
....ate to the youngsters vying for a professional contract.
Nicky explained: “When we were filming the show it brought back loads of memories because I know what they’re going through, I’ve been there.
“I know all about getting dropped and that’s because it’s happened to me.
“Everton were allegedly set to sign me because I’d done a goalkeeping course with Neville Southall and done well, and then I got dropped for the final and that was that.
“I was devastated. It’s tough, you think that’s that and your whole world is ruined but life is about disappointments and picking yourself back up. It happened with Leeds and in League of Ireland but you dust yourself down and move on.
“That’s why when we were filming this I was able to relate to the lads and empathise with them.
“I grew close to the guys and of course it was tough when they got eliminated but they’re all very talented guys with bright futures.”
Byrne was signed by Leeds United when he was 16 before moving into music. The RTE version of the UK reality show will see ten young footballers battle for one place at Celtic’s Youth Academy, headed by ex-footie star Chris McCart.
And Nicky revealed: “I’m very proud to say we really did unearth a true gem in our winner.”
FOOTBALL’S Next Star will start on Friday on RTE Two at 5pm.
WESTLIFE star Nicky Byrne has told of how his new show reminded him of the highs and lows he experienced during his time as a professional footballer.
Football's Next Star follows 10 young hopefuls as they battle for a year-long contract with Celtic's training academy.
Nicky said that watching the boys getting eliminated reminded him of the highs and lows of being a player: "It brought it all back.
TEARS
"When I played, there were plenty of tears back at the parents' house. There are highlights, walking out on the pitch, winning cup finals, that sort of thing.
"But there is a lot of rejection. But that's part and parcel of football. You get dropped like that. You turn up late and you get dropped. Your boots aren't clean, you get dropped.
"It's tough for the players and for the managers.
"I remember the feeling of sitting there in a dressing room and your heart pounding and listening to the manager call the team and you're not in it..."
Nicky kept his spirits up listening to Boyzone tracks.
"When I was at Leeds I became very patriotic; I had the tricolour over my bed and I was a big Boyzone fan.
I'd listen to a lot of their albums when I was in digs, purely to wreck the English lads' heads," the 34-year-old singer joked.
The football fanatic told the Herald he would love to see former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp manage Ireland.
The singer, who is starring in this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing, says current manager Giovanni Trapattoni has done a good job, but Rednapp could bring a bit extra.
Nicky made his comments during the launch of his new programme, his first solo TV project since Westlife decided to call it a day.
PASSION
Nicky's passion for football started at a young age. "I always wanted to be a footballer ever since I was six or seven.
"That's the great thing about working on this show. I felt like I've come full circle."
Nicky will be doing most of his training for Strictly in Dublin. Married to Georgina Ahern, he is proud dad to twins Rocco and Jay and they had their first day in school earlier this month.
The doting dad did not want to relocate to Dublin and told BBC bosses that, if he were to participate, they would have to let him stay in his home city.
Football's Next Star follows 10 young hopefuls as they battle for a year-long contract with Celtic's training academy.
Nicky said that watching the boys getting eliminated reminded him of the highs and lows of being a player: "It brought it all back.
TEARS
"When I played, there were plenty of tears back at the parents' house. There are highlights, walking out on the pitch, winning cup finals, that sort of thing.
"But there is a lot of rejection. But that's part and parcel of football. You get dropped like that. You turn up late and you get dropped. Your boots aren't clean, you get dropped.
"It's tough for the players and for the managers.
"I remember the feeling of sitting there in a dressing room and your heart pounding and listening to the manager call the team and you're not in it..."
Nicky kept his spirits up listening to Boyzone tracks.
"When I was at Leeds I became very patriotic; I had the tricolour over my bed and I was a big Boyzone fan.
I'd listen to a lot of their albums when I was in digs, purely to wreck the English lads' heads," the 34-year-old singer joked.
The football fanatic told the Herald he would love to see former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp manage Ireland.
The singer, who is starring in this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing, says current manager Giovanni Trapattoni has done a good job, but Rednapp could bring a bit extra.
Nicky made his comments during the launch of his new programme, his first solo TV project since Westlife decided to call it a day.
PASSION
Nicky's passion for football started at a young age. "I always wanted to be a footballer ever since I was six or seven.
"That's the great thing about working on this show. I felt like I've come full circle."
Nicky will be doing most of his training for Strictly in Dublin. Married to Georgina Ahern, he is proud dad to twins Rocco and Jay and they had their first day in school earlier this month.
The doting dad did not want to relocate to Dublin and told BBC bosses that, if he were to participate, they would have to let him stay in his home city.
Neil Lennon: I thought Westlife fans were there to see me not Nicky Byrne
NEIL LENNON has told how he went to greet female fans – only to learn they were really after Westlife star Nicky Byrne.
The Celtic boss revealed on an Irish chat show he was left red-faced by the gaffe outside the Hoops’ training ground.
Neil, 41, was with Nicky on The Late Late Show when he told host Ryan Tubridy: “One day I turned up and there was a large group of middle-aged women. So as you do, you show your manners and pull over for an autograph and they were all, ‘Neil, is Nicky Byrne here? I have taken the day off work to see him.’
“For security reasons, we could only let four or five in and we made Nicky get changed and train with some of the guys. It made these women’s day.”
Neil and Nicky were on the programme to promote RTE show Football’s Next Star – that will find a new player for the Hoops.
The singer will work with the club he supports to find the best prospect from thousands of hopefuls. He said: “With my football background, I thought this is a great opportunity for me to go back to my roots.
“And also since Westlife I have always wanted to get into TV.”
He said of his time working with the club: “Celtic has this old-fashioned homely vibe.
“You walk in and the women on reception come up and give you a hug and a cup of tea.”
But Lennon joked: “They don’t do that with me.”
Lennon revealed he finally feels safe again in Glasgow.
He said: “Glasgow has been my home for 12 years. I have a boy who is six years of age who loves life there and loves what I do in the football scene.”
NEIL LENNON has told how he went to greet female fans – only to learn they were really after Westlife star Nicky Byrne.
The Celtic boss revealed on an Irish chat show he was left red-faced by the gaffe outside the Hoops’ training ground.
Neil, 41, was with Nicky on The Late Late Show when he told host Ryan Tubridy: “One day I turned up and there was a large group of middle-aged women. So as you do, you show your manners and pull over for an autograph and they were all, ‘Neil, is Nicky Byrne here? I have taken the day off work to see him.’
“For security reasons, we could only let four or five in and we made Nicky get changed and train with some of the guys. It made these women’s day.”
Neil and Nicky were on the programme to promote RTE show Football’s Next Star – that will find a new player for the Hoops.
The singer will work with the club he supports to find the best prospect from thousands of hopefuls. He said: “With my football background, I thought this is a great opportunity for me to go back to my roots.
“And also since Westlife I have always wanted to get into TV.”
He said of his time working with the club: “Celtic has this old-fashioned homely vibe.
“You walk in and the women on reception come up and give you a hug and a cup of tea.”
But Lennon joked: “They don’t do that with me.”
Lennon revealed he finally feels safe again in Glasgow.
He said: “Glasgow has been my home for 12 years. I have a boy who is six years of age who loves life there and loves what I do in the football scene.”
..........Strictly Come Dancing pro Kristina Rihanoff has said she reckons Nicky Byrne is the celeb to beat.
Talking to Yahoo, the ballroom champ suggested that the Westlife star had the whole of Ireland behind him, and he didn’t even need to worry about dancing.
“The whole of Ireland is behind him. He could go out there, stand on his head and do absolutely nothing for 30 seconds and he’s going to be voted for another five or six weeks,” she said.
Kristina, who is partnered with Hollywood star Colin Salmon, added: “If he just puts left foot in front of the right. He’s a lovely guy, he’s a national treasure for Ireland and I think he’s going to be all right with or without the lift.”
FORMER Westlife star Nicky Byrne has told of how ending up in the bottom two on 'Strictly Come Dancing' has given him more focus and made him work harder to compete.
Speaking to the Irish Independent during a closed dance rehearsal in Dublin ahead of tomorrow's live round of the BBC show, the 33-year-old admitted he was disappointed with his performance.
He and his partner Karen Hauer (30) performed a waltz but did not impress the judges.
"It was a bit savaging last week," he said.
"We had the waltz down to a tee last week in Dublin and then I went to England, walked in for a run-through and I forgot it all as soon as I got on the floor. It's very intimidating being on the 'Strictly' set.
"That's why I'm working extra hard this week, to make sure I'm not in that position again."
The father-of-two will perform a version of the Cha Cha on tomorrow's live show.
Speaking to the Irish Independent during a closed dance rehearsal in Dublin ahead of tomorrow's live round of the BBC show, the 33-year-old admitted he was disappointed with his performance.
He and his partner Karen Hauer (30) performed a waltz but did not impress the judges.
"It was a bit savaging last week," he said.
"We had the waltz down to a tee last week in Dublin and then I went to England, walked in for a run-through and I forgot it all as soon as I got on the floor. It's very intimidating being on the 'Strictly' set.
"That's why I'm working extra hard this week, to make sure I'm not in that position again."
The father-of-two will perform a version of the Cha Cha on tomorrow's live show.
In Westlife it was the four of us. Now it's just me... and I'm terrified
..A week after his savaging on Strictly Come Dancing, Nicky Byrne is bent on redemption. The problem, he claims, is that fans just don’t know the real him
They don’t come much bigger than Nicky Byrne. With Westlife he has sold over 50 million albums, filled Croke Park four times and pocketed a personal fortune believed to be in excess of €10m. He is married to the daughter of one of the country’s most notorious politicians and his sons, Jay and Rocco, are rivalled only by Jedward as Ireland’s most famous twins.
But for all that, for the past decade Nicky has lived in a showbiz bubble, insulated from public scrutiny and acerbic comment – until last weekend. After performing a waltz on Strictly Come Dancing with his American partner, Karen Hauer, Nicky received something that his ego hasn’t experienced in over a decade – an utter bruising.
Smile: Nicky Byrne with lissom dance partner Karen Hauer
‘We had the waltz down to a tee last week in Dublin,’ he says. ‘Then I walked in for a run-through and I forgot it all as soon as I got on the floor. It’s very intimidating being on the Strictly set but Craig [judge Craig Revel Horwood] deemed the routine “poor” and the lift “illegal” and gave us a bit of a savaging.
‘I thought I went into it correctly and I got slated. I took all their comments on board. Obviously, they were very harsh for the first week. And we did an illegal lift and as a result we are right down at the bottom and, I suppose, rightly so. From then on, I decided I wasn’t going to give them a second chance to savage me like that again.’
The problem, Nicky complains, is that the judges and the general public don’t know the real him. To the 10 million BBC viewers, he is just one quarter of an ageing boyband.
‘Not everybody knows the cheeky performer that is Nicky Byrne,’ he laments. ‘The Westlife fans and the people who came to the live shows know that character. And I suppose, when I stepped out of the band and agreed to sign up to a show like Strictly, it was a chance for me to let all these people know who I really am. Because when we did shows, we sat on stools and we sang ballads. And I wasn’t the lead singer and, to the average person who wasn’t a Westlife fan, I was just some guy who was sitting at the end.
‘That never bothered me but mentally I had to make a decision that if I was out on my own, I had to change that perception for a lot of people and that it would take work. As famous as Westlife the brand name is, it only got me into the competition but it doesn’t allow for the personality.’
Nicky hopes last night’s performance of the cha-cha will redeem him. He spent all week in a dance studio in Dublin’s inner city, secretly practising the high-octane routine to LMFAO’s I’m Sexy And I Know It. I meet him just after lunchtime on Thursday and got a sneak preview of his number. Wearing loose-fitting grey tracksuit pants and a sweat-soaked navy and silver T-shirt, he bursts into a routine so fast and complex it would give Michael Flatley a run for his money. Afterwards, gasping for breath, Nicky flashes his trademark smile and asks: ‘What do you think?’
I have to say I’m impressed. After 14 years following Westlife, the most dancing I have ever seen him do is a glorified version of musical chairs with the band’s ever-present four stools.
‘The cha-cha is such a different dance,’ he says. ‘It is full of personality and that really suits me. I need to get that across to the public. If they get to know me, hopefully they will vote for me. It is a fast dance and there are over 100 more things that we have had to incorporate into the set this week. But there is also the chance to smile and be funny and sexy and hopefully, I can nail it on the night.’
Nailing it on the night was never a problem for Nicky the team player. Now, he admits he is consumed with fear.
‘The biggest fear I get is at the start, just before I go on, when I hear Tess and Bruce introduce us,’ he says. ‘That is the moment when I get that awful knot in my stomach. They play the opening video sequence and then that realisation that you have to go out on your own and perform hits you.
‘It’s like what I imagine it is like just before you go into a boxing match. You can’t show that fear when you go out on stage because you have to put on a show. My biggest fear now is that I will go completely blank and forget everything I have prepared. For the first time, I understand the sort of stress and pressure that Louis is under week in, week out – to be constantly told you are great or you are s***, to be scrutinised for every little thing you do or say. In Westlife, all four of us dealt with it. Now it is just me. It’s tough.’
For Nicky’s partner, 30-year-old Karen, the battle is merging the pop star with the dancer.
‘He is naturally a great performer and I want to keep the Westlife spirit that he has,’ she says. ‘But I need to mix that with the ballroom steps. The most difficult thing was to get him to smile. He has this Westlife pout, this look where he squints his eyes and looks longingly at the camera. That doesn’t work with dancing. It is this smooth criminal kind of look. We need to get him out of that and into the smiling ballroom dancer. If he can nail that, it will really help him.’
He has had plenty of support from home. It was his 34th birthday this week and all of Westlife wished him luck. Shane Filan will take his family to the studio next weekend to offer moral support. Kian and Mark are holding out in case Nicky makes it to the final. But the cornerstone for the former professional footballer is, as always, his family. Georgina is always at his side, scrutinising videos of the day’s rehearsals at home and cheering him on at weekends. It was she who convinced him to take part.
How does Georgina feel about him sweating and grinding with Karen?
‘She has been fine. She was the first person to push me towards it,’ he says smiling. ‘If you can do that show and that dancing and be half decent at it, the exposure can only be a good thing. She has been great. I go home and show her some of the moves on the phone and she gives me her feedback. She comes over every weekend to support me. Jay and Rocco are delighted. I am home every week and then they fly in after school on the Friday.
‘They are glued to the show – when I made the illegal lift, they called me on it. Jay said, “Why did you lift her when you weren’t allowed lift her?”
‘Don’t get me wrong, I was happy in Westlife. I was probably the one who didn’t want it to end – it just became inevitable. But I am very happy at the moment, waking up at home and being able to rehearse in Dublin. My head is in the right place and I am busy and I still have a buzz from the TV side of things. The pressure of live television has replaced the adrenaline rush of the concerts. I’ve yet to meet anyone who has done Strictly and said they regretted it.’
The aspect of the show he is least comfortable with is the wardrobe. Having been dubbed Glitterballs by Georgina on Twitter, Nicky has railed against the frippery – and told the producers he won’t wear spray tan.
‘I really have trouble with the fake tan, the heels and the sequins,’ he said. ‘I keep putting this block up about being dressed within an inch of my life. I have managed to ward them off with the fake tan and I have managed to keep the sequins to a minimum.
‘But as soon as you do the dress rehearsal on the Friday, you go back into the stylist’s room and take off your kit. Then an hour later, the wardrobe girls knock on the dressing room door to let you know that the powers that be want more sequins. You don’t want to go out there looking like a panto dame and I am doing my best to resist but it is Strictly and you have to look the part to a point.’
Nicky, still sweating profusely, breaks off to take a sip of water. He has been off alcohol for six weeks and has taken up kick-boxing for aerobic fitness. He is trimmer than I have ever seen him. Georgina, a fitness trainer by profession, looks after his diet.
He says: ‘Food and fitness Georgina knows really well, so she helps me with all that. But I also have my own trainer, Pádraig Murphy at Involve fitness in Blackrock. He is a former Irish kickboxing champion so I do the pads with him. I will only spar with him because anyone else would kick the s*** out of me.
‘I have never trained as hard for anything in my life. I had to because it is so intense. I knocked the drink on the head as well. I wasn’t a big drinker anyway but I gave it up while I was training. I had a few beers after the show last Saturday but I really needed them after those comments. If you work hard you can play hard. I gave it up for about six weeks coming into the show and I feel now that I am in the best shape of my life.’
Karen returns with a fresh towel and leads Nicky back to the dance studio. Before he disappears, he again flashes his trademark smile and thanks me for making the effort to interview him. If the British public see only half of his natural charm, then he is in with a shot of waltzing away with the title.
Nicky’s kids feel the Byrne
NICKY BYRNE’S young children were distraught over the Strictly judges’ scathing criticism of their dad’s dance moves last week.
Sharp-tongued Craig Revel Horwood called the Westlife star’s waltz “hideous” and scored him two out of ten.
Nicky’s five-year-old twin boys, Jay and Rocco, were watching horrified at home.
A show source said: “When Nicky went home after the show, his little boys were quite upset and asked him why the judges were picking on him.
“They said they thought Craig was a bully and didn’t understand why he was being so mean.
“Unfortunately, comments like that stick with kids.”
Bruno Tonioli also blasted Nicky’s routine, telling the singer’s partner Karen Hauer: “It looked like you were dancing with a cardboard cut-out.”
Strictly Come Dancing 2012: Nicky Byrne calls judges "savage"
Strictly Come Dancing star Nicky Byrne has branded the show’s judges “savage” for their comments on the series so far.
It’s fair to say that Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Toniloi and Darcey Bussell haven’t given Nicky the best of marks.
In Week 1 they penalised the Westlife singer for an illegal lift in his waltz, and week two saw the panel complain about his “boy band dance moves” in cha cha.
The low scores left Nicky bottom of the leaderboard, but fortunately his fans managed to help keep him out of the bottom two during Sunday’s results show.
Nicky said this week: “I was so nervous going into the first lie show. It probably wasn’t my best performance and standing in front of the judges afterwards was particularly savage, but I’ve just got to take it on the chin, pick up the pieces and start again.”
The popstar claimed that the girls were the ones to watch out for this year, as well as gymnast Louis Smith.
“I’ve always said that the competition to watch – not just for me , for everybody – is Kimberley, Louis and Denise. I think Lisa can really move too and she’s shown that in the first week,” he said.
Nicky added: “Obviously, because we come from two pop band that have been around for a while, there’s a friendly rivalry between me and Kimberley, but I wouldn’t say Kimberley is my only rival.”
NICKY BYRNE’S young children were distraught over the Strictly judges’ scathing criticism of their dad’s dance moves last week.
Sharp-tongued Craig Revel Horwood called the Westlife star’s waltz “hideous” and scored him two out of ten.
Nicky’s five-year-old twin boys, Jay and Rocco, were watching horrified at home.
A show source said: “When Nicky went home after the show, his little boys were quite upset and asked him why the judges were picking on him.
“They said they thought Craig was a bully and didn’t understand why he was being so mean.
“Unfortunately, comments like that stick with kids.”
Bruno Tonioli also blasted Nicky’s routine, telling the singer’s partner Karen Hauer: “It looked like you were dancing with a cardboard cut-out.”
Strictly Come Dancing 2012: Nicky Byrne calls judges "savage"
Strictly Come Dancing star Nicky Byrne has branded the show’s judges “savage” for their comments on the series so far.
It’s fair to say that Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Toniloi and Darcey Bussell haven’t given Nicky the best of marks.
In Week 1 they penalised the Westlife singer for an illegal lift in his waltz, and week two saw the panel complain about his “boy band dance moves” in cha cha.
The low scores left Nicky bottom of the leaderboard, but fortunately his fans managed to help keep him out of the bottom two during Sunday’s results show.
Nicky said this week: “I was so nervous going into the first lie show. It probably wasn’t my best performance and standing in front of the judges afterwards was particularly savage, but I’ve just got to take it on the chin, pick up the pieces and start again.”
The popstar claimed that the girls were the ones to watch out for this year, as well as gymnast Louis Smith.
“I’ve always said that the competition to watch – not just for me , for everybody – is Kimberley, Louis and Denise. I think Lisa can really move too and she’s shown that in the first week,” he said.
Nicky added: “Obviously, because we come from two pop band that have been around for a while, there’s a friendly rivalry between me and Kimberley, but I wouldn’t say Kimberley is my only rival.”
Nicky: Cecelia's baby has made us broody
Saturday October 20 2012
Nicky Byrne has admitted that seeing his sister-in-law Cecelia Ahern with a newborn has made himself and his wife Georgina broody again.
The 33-year-old said he'd "absolutely love" to have another child in the next few years and introduce a little sister or brother to his twins Rocco and Jay.
And the household's been a little quiet of late with their sons just having started primary school.
"We've put the boys in separate classes which we thought could be a bit strange, but it's worked out great and they've relished it so far."
The father-of-two married his other half in 2003.
"Down the road, Georgina and I would definitely want another child, it'd be a great addition to the family," said Byrne.
"Cecelia's baby Sonny is so cute and he's been great for the boys." The singer is currently competing on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and insisted that he'd never have considered taking part on the show if it meant being away from home for rehearsals.
"I wouldn't have done the show if I couldn't train in Dublin. I met the guys from Strictly before the final Westlife tour and said that I'd have to be in Ireland for rehearsal sessions.
"In fairness to them, they looked at it and came back to say it was fine.
"So I train here and it's great. I get to see Georgina in the morning and bring the kids to school.
"I've been back and forth for 14 years and funnily enough in the later years of Westlife I had a lot more time at home, as busy as it all was. So I didn't want to go back to that. I didn't want my children starting school and me being over in England.
"I really thought: 'OK, if it doesn't work out, I'll take the hit and do something else.'
"I'm so glad it has worked out and was able to be achieved because it is such a buzz to be on a programme like this one."
Saturday October 20 2012
Nicky Byrne has admitted that seeing his sister-in-law Cecelia Ahern with a newborn has made himself and his wife Georgina broody again.
The 33-year-old said he'd "absolutely love" to have another child in the next few years and introduce a little sister or brother to his twins Rocco and Jay.
And the household's been a little quiet of late with their sons just having started primary school.
"We've put the boys in separate classes which we thought could be a bit strange, but it's worked out great and they've relished it so far."
The father-of-two married his other half in 2003.
"Down the road, Georgina and I would definitely want another child, it'd be a great addition to the family," said Byrne.
"Cecelia's baby Sonny is so cute and he's been great for the boys." The singer is currently competing on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and insisted that he'd never have considered taking part on the show if it meant being away from home for rehearsals.
"I wouldn't have done the show if I couldn't train in Dublin. I met the guys from Strictly before the final Westlife tour and said that I'd have to be in Ireland for rehearsal sessions.
"In fairness to them, they looked at it and came back to say it was fine.
"So I train here and it's great. I get to see Georgina in the morning and bring the kids to school.
"I've been back and forth for 14 years and funnily enough in the later years of Westlife I had a lot more time at home, as busy as it all was. So I didn't want to go back to that. I didn't want my children starting school and me being over in England.
"I really thought: 'OK, if it doesn't work out, I'll take the hit and do something else.'
"I'm so glad it has worked out and was able to be achieved because it is such a buzz to be on a programme like this one."
'I've never known fear like I've felt on Strictly': Nicky Byrne says singing to millions in Westlife was a cinch compared to dancing on TV
..When Nicky Byrne was feeling miserable as sin following a verbal kicking from the BBC1 Strictly Come Dancing judges for an illegal lift during a waltz in his very first dance of the competition, dear old Sir Bruce Forsyth ? bless him ? went to seek him out backstage.
?He was so encouraging,? says Nicky, who?s more used to rapturous applause as one quarter of Westlife, one of the most successful boy bands in pop history. ?He said: ?Don?t let it get you down. It?s a journey. It?ll be fine ? just work hard.? ?
Which Nicky did, practising all the hours God sends with Venezuelan partner Karen Hauer to perfect his cha cha cha for the following week?s show. ?Nobody understands how nervous you are, going into that first night in front of ten or 11 million people,? he says. ?You?re being judged and you?re trying to remember steps in your head.
Having a ball:
?When we finished the waltz, I thought we did OK. I didn?t fall over or forget the routine. Then we stood there and got absolutely hammered.?
Craig Revel Horwood made such a fuss of the illegal lift you?d have thought they?d vandalised Strictly?s spray-tanning booth. They received a disappointing 17 points.
?There was a part of me that thought: ?This is week one. The judges are going to go hard.? OK, we did put an illegal lift in there and had we known it was as bad as it was going to be we wouldn?t have.
?Anyway, I was raring to go with the cha cha cha to show what I could do. It?s a bit more me. There?s a lot of hip movement involved and a chance to have fun. The final rehearsal went great. I thought: ?If I do that tonight I?m happy.? We were all set to go.?
But his cha cha cha was a disaster. Nicky and Karen hadn?t taken account of the noise of the applause. ?The song starts with eight beats, during which I was supposed to do three big moves. But the crowd started clapping and I couldn?t hear the beats of the music. Not only that, but I was waiting for the clapping to stop.
?I missed six of the eight beats, which is equivalent to missing the opening verse of a song and didn?t get to do the big moves at the start. The judges don?t see the rehearsals so they didn?t know they had been there and the people at home didn?t either.
?To everyone bar me it looked like I?d fluffed it. I was chasing my tail after that. I managed to get in a few moves but my heart was pounding. When we got to the judges, I didn?t mind being criticised. I couldn?t even say I was saddened. I was really, really p***ed off.
?I was just thinking, ?How could that have happened?? It was nobody?s fault. Inside you feel like you?ve let yourself down. That really stung me.?
Putting the right foot forward: Nicky Byrne and Karen Hauer practice their dance routine for several hours a day between Monday and Thursday
Thankfully, last Saturday?s quickstep went off without a hitch. The theme for the week was Hollywood and Nicky impressed the judges with his fancy footwork dressed as Jim Carrey from Nineties movie The Mask. When they received 27 points, Nicky was cock-a-hoop.
?I had a good week. I wasn?t so nervous,? he says. ?Maybe it?s because I was playing a character and had a mask on. I was somebody else.?
Nicky, you see, is not entirely comfortable in the spotlight. For 14 years, he was ?the bloke on the stool at the end? (his words) in Westlife.
Fifteen months ago, he and fellow band members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan took the decision to call it a day after selling more than 45 million records with 14 No 1 hits and 26 top ten singles. They performed their last concert in Dublin in June.
?Outside the Westlife family, nobody really knows who you are,? he says. ?You?re one of four guys who sing ballads and wear black shirts. I saw Strictly as a chance for people to get to know the real me.?
In turn, he has been enjoying the chance to get to know the other competitors in what?s been called the best Strictly line-up ever. ?I feel for Jerry,? he says of model Jerry Hall, who was voted off last week.
?We saw a side of her lots of people don?t see. She?s so funny. Her one-liners are priceless. The camaraderie backstage is really good. Everybody gets on, everybody buzzes, everybody?s nervous as hell and everybody?s tired.?
He adds: ?Some people get good marks and some don?t. I?ve been near the bottom of the scoreboard for two weeks, so I know how disheartening it is when everybody else is being clapped and getting high scores.
?Richard Arnold [the ITV Breakfast presenter who ended up in the first dance-off of the series] said to me: ?When you?re in that dance-off, it?s just horrible.? But we?re all going to have to face it. Thankfully, last week I had a good week. I knew I had more in me, which last Saturday showed. I can build on that. But it was a relief.? He chuckles. ?So, I?m still in it, but I?ve got an awful lot of work to do.?
Goodbye Mrs Robinson: Jerry Hall is the latest celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing
He says the biggest thing about leaving Westlife is he feels out there on his own and exposed. ?That goes for sitting on the couch and being interviewed. In Westlife, there?s four of you. Four different views.
?Someone may be grumpy that day. Someone may be jokey. You support each other. When you?re on your own, you?ve got to be funny, interesting, intriguing. It?s not easy. It?s certainly taking me time to be the real Nicky Byrne.?
The real Nicky Byrne is actually thoroughly nice. During his ?bloke on the stool? days, he was always the warm, funny one with an easy line in banter.
Enjoying an early career as a professional footballer with Leeds United, Nicky was only 19 when The X Factor?s Louis Walsh approached him to join his new boy band, Westlife.
Nobody could have guessed how huge the band would become. Nor that Nicky would be a man with children of his own by the time Westlife decided their boy band days were over.
Today, Nicky is 34 and married to his childhood sweetheart Georgina, the daughter of former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. They have five-year-old twins, Jay and Rocco. He says of Westlife?s split: ?There was no major row that forced our hand so we could have done more years, but you have to know when the fire inside the band has burned a little bit.
Foursome: Nicky Byrne with wife Georgina and twin sons Rocco and Jay
?The line you always give is: ?We?ll know when the time is right, when the fans don?t want us any more and the market has gone.? Funnily enough, the fans did still want us.?
So why call it a day? ?The only times I was still really enjoying were the live shows,? he says.
?The discussions with the record company, decisions about the videos, the songs, were all becoming fraught. All of us knew the machine was starting to falter.
?You can only put yourself through that for so long. There?d been plenty of discussions about whether it was time to leave or not. Some people felt yes, some weren?t sure and some felt no.?
What about him? ?I knew it was time to move on and throw myself into something new. At that time, we were out of contract so everyone was a free agent. The label was banging on the door to offer us a new deal ? with good money.
?We?d been offered these before but we just couldn?t see ourselves signing another three or five-year deal and completing it. It had got to the point where we felt: ?Oh, it?s another album, another tour, another X-Factor performance.? It was too easy. We needed to go away.?
Tough decision, though?
?Yeah, I can remember the exact moment. My heart was sinking and I was thinking, ?This is it.? You?re scared in a way, but we knew it was the right thing to knock it on the head. So we took a deep breath and said: ?Let?s do it.?
?Louis was crushed. One of his biggest strengths was always keeping us together. There was no big fallout. There were arguments, but that?s life.
?We felt the quality of our singles was slipping. Our problem was that there was no Gary Barlow figure in the band and, towards the end, we weren?t necessarily the priority for other songwriters any more. That just happens.
?Louis assured us we?d be fine and were just going through a phase. When he knew how we were feeling wasn?t going away, he said: ?Let?s take a break for a year.? But we knew it was time to call it a day.?
The decision was made in summer 2011 when Westlife were part-way through their 11th major tour. Nicky had arranged to fly from Switzerland to meet his family for a holiday in Portugal. ?I was on my own, and when you?re alone there?s a lot of time to think about it. I knew the timing was right for all of us.?
When they broke the news to Simon Cowell, who had steered them with Louis through their 14 years, he shook their hands.
?He told us it had been a great time and for us to hold our heads high. He said: ?If there?s anything I can do for you, let me know.?
?It?s no more than you?d expect from Simon. If I did need guidance or advice, he?s at the end of a phone call.?
Westlife promised fans a farewell album and tour, which ended in an emotional concert in Dublin in June. Nicky says: ?We all cried ? us, our wives, the crew. It was a lifestyle for us all. My fear was waking up the next morning and thinking: ?Oh no, it?s over.? But I never got down. It had been a fantastic ride and it was time to get into something else. I?d given everything I had to the band.?
Now he has ambitions to be a TV or radio presenter. ?I?m the sort of person who has to get up in the morning and work. We all enjoy family time, but you still need to have a function.
?I look at Dermot O?Leary and think: ?That?s where I see myself going.? But, for now I?m knee-deep in Strictly.?
When producers approached Nicky to take part, he says he was encouraged by Georgina. There was, though, one proviso: the twins were starting school in Dublin so Nicky, a devoted father, wanted to share this precious time.
So he rehearses in a studio in Dublin from Monday to Thursday, then travels to London for the show on a Friday, where his wife and sons join him after school. Last week, they watched him on TV sporting Jim Carrey?s Mask make-up. ?They were very excited my scores were higher,? he says.
I wonder what they made of his first-week hammering? ?Jay said: ?Why did you lift her when you weren?t allowed to lift her, Daddy?
........Strictly Come Dancing 2012: Nicky Byrne wants to show fans who he really is!
Westlife star Nicky Byrne has said he hopes Strictly Come Dancing 2012 will let people get to know who he really is.
The singer hasn’t got off to the best of starts in the ballroom, but is more concerned about showcasing his personality than his footwork.
Speaking to the Daily Mail today, Nicky said: “Outside the Westlife family, nobody really knows who you are.
“You’re one of four guys who sing ballads and wear black shirts. I saw Strictly as a chance for people to get to know the real me.”
Nicky really has been struggling so far, and admitted he’s felt like he’s let himself down.
“I missed six of the eight beats, which is equivalent to missing the opening verse of a song and didn’t get to do the big moves at the start,” said Nicky about his disastrous cha cha two week’s ago. “The judges don’t see the rehearsals so they didn’t know they had been there and the people at home didn’t either.
“To everyone bar me it looked like I’d fluffed it. I was chasing my tail after that. I managed to get in a few moves but my heart was pounding. When we got to the judges, I didn’t mind being criticised. I couldn’t even say I was saddened. I was really, really p***ed off.”
He added: “I was just thinking, “How could that have happened?” It was nobody’s fault. Inside you feel like you’ve let yourself down. That really stung me.”
....Westlife's Nicky Byrne has been one of the main eye candy sources on this year's Strictly Come Dancing.
HUNK Nicky Byrne has revealed that show bosses forced him to have a spray tan because he looked too pale.
The singer, who danced the rumba with Venzuelan professional Karen Hauer, 30, last night, was desperate to avoid the tanning booth.
Westlife star Nicky, 34, said he had no choice in the matter.
“I knew about the spray tan coming into Strictly. Obviously I had to wear make-up for TV things we did with Westlife but I’d never had a spray tan before.
“I was told you just stand there and pictured myself standing there in some sort of sun bed.”
The singer, who danced the rumba with Venzuelan professional Karen Hauer, 30, last night, was desperate to avoid the tanning booth.
Westlife star Nicky, 34, said he had no choice in the matter.
“I knew about the spray tan coming into Strictly. Obviously I had to wear make-up for TV things we did with Westlife but I’d never had a spray tan before.
“I was told you just stand there and pictured myself standing there in some sort of sun bed.”
.............Karen’s not sorry for illegal lift
STRICTLY dancer Karen Hauer isn’t sorry about the illegal lift in her first routine with Westlife singer Nicky Byrne.
The Venezuelan pro was slammed by judge Craig Revel Horwood after she chose to incorporate the risky move into the pair’s waltz.
But last night she hit back and said: “I don’t think it was a mistake. We take risks as performers and artists and it was a learning experience.
“I am new to this so I had to learn the ropes. It was just a shame Nicky did a great waltz and all of the focus was on those two seconds where my feet left the floor.”
Nicky backed up his partner: “It’s better to be talked about than not be talked about – not that we did it on purpose.
“In the aftermath we did think, ‘Well, that was a disaster’. But then it was one of the highlights of the weekend because everyone was talking about it.
“In that respect it was good and we survived it. It was week one and no one had to leave the show, so we were quite lucky.”
Strictly star Nicky Byrne reveals Celtic boss Neil Lennon turned down request to appear on BBC show
4 Nov 2012
THE Westlife singer insists he tried to get pal Lennon to put his name forward for the dance show but was told there would be "no chance" of it happening.
Neil Lennon and Nicky Byrne on The Late Late Show
STRCITLY Come Dancing star Nicky Byrne has revealed how he tried to get Neil Lennon on to the show next year.
The former Westlife singer is pals with the Hoops boss and presented reality show Football’s Next Star, which gave young Irish footballers the chance to win a place at Celtic’s Youth Academy.
Nicky, 34, who danced the rhumba to Aerosmith’s I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing last night with Venezuelan beauty Karen Hauer, told how he had been delighted by the support from the Glasgow club and their youth coaching staff.
He said: “I was on a chat show with Neil in Ireland and I was trying to get him to do Strictly next year. He just had a little laugh and said, ‘Absolutely no chance.’
“I’ve had massive support from Celtic and the backroom staff. Everybody’s been texting me, including Chris McCart, Tommy McIntyre and Greg Robertson, who looks after the younger lads.
“I’ve heard the Celtic website has been putting my number up to vote. That’s brilliant.”
Nicky also revealed how Westlife manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh put the rivalry between their two shows to one side to wish him luck – but told him Olympic gymnast Louis Smith would win.
Nicky said: “I met him at a party three weeks ago. He said to me, ‘Do you think you’ll win it?’ I said I’d give it a good shot and he said, ‘Louis Smith will win’.
“He’s great fun and he said the positives are I’ll be able to dance when we do a reunion.
“He said he knows genuinely how hard you have to work on Strictly and wished me luck.”
Nicky, who trains in Ireland to be close to his wife Georgina and twin sons Rocco and Jay, five, was delighted yesterday when his boys attended a dress rehearsal for the first time.
Byrne claimed that Walsh is hoping for a Westlife reunion in the future following their split in the summer. He also has hopes that the X Factor judge will be allowed to attend a Strictly live show if possible.
"He is obviously convinced we are going to do a reunion. And then he said to me, 'Genuinely, I know how hard you need to work with Strictly, so the best of luck with it and hope it goes well'.
"We will hopefully hook up on one of the Saturdays. I'd love him to come down but I don't think ITV will let him."
Speaking about his time on the show so far, Byrne revealed that his wife Georgina Ahern holds no jealousy towards his dancing partnership with Karen Hauer.
He said: "Georgina is very supportive and wants me to do my best. I don't think I'd be here if dancing with Karen was an issue.
"We've all got jobs to do and everyone is very professional. I've heard people have got together in the past but, no disrespect to Karen, it's not for me.
"I don't even feel sexy when I dance because I'm too busy counting. I could be dancing with anyone and all I'd be thinking is '1,2,3,4'."
On his chances of winning the show, he added: "I am very competitive and I want to do well but this is definitely the biggest challenge I have ever taken on.
"It's not that I think I can't win but I'm up against brilliant people. Denise van Outen is great and Kimberley Walsh is fantastic.
"Louis Smith is also really good and one of the favourites. There are at least five people above me at the moment. But who knows with this show? Anything can happen..............
4 Nov 2012
THE Westlife singer insists he tried to get pal Lennon to put his name forward for the dance show but was told there would be "no chance" of it happening.
Neil Lennon and Nicky Byrne on The Late Late Show
STRCITLY Come Dancing star Nicky Byrne has revealed how he tried to get Neil Lennon on to the show next year.
The former Westlife singer is pals with the Hoops boss and presented reality show Football’s Next Star, which gave young Irish footballers the chance to win a place at Celtic’s Youth Academy.
Nicky, 34, who danced the rhumba to Aerosmith’s I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing last night with Venezuelan beauty Karen Hauer, told how he had been delighted by the support from the Glasgow club and their youth coaching staff.
He said: “I was on a chat show with Neil in Ireland and I was trying to get him to do Strictly next year. He just had a little laugh and said, ‘Absolutely no chance.’
“I’ve had massive support from Celtic and the backroom staff. Everybody’s been texting me, including Chris McCart, Tommy McIntyre and Greg Robertson, who looks after the younger lads.
“I’ve heard the Celtic website has been putting my number up to vote. That’s brilliant.”
Nicky also revealed how Westlife manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh put the rivalry between their two shows to one side to wish him luck – but told him Olympic gymnast Louis Smith would win.
Nicky said: “I met him at a party three weeks ago. He said to me, ‘Do you think you’ll win it?’ I said I’d give it a good shot and he said, ‘Louis Smith will win’.
“He’s great fun and he said the positives are I’ll be able to dance when we do a reunion.
“He said he knows genuinely how hard you have to work on Strictly and wished me luck.”
Nicky, who trains in Ireland to be close to his wife Georgina and twin sons Rocco and Jay, five, was delighted yesterday when his boys attended a dress rehearsal for the first time.
I’ve learned to have a thick skin;
Westlife’s Nicky Byrne, 34, talks about Strictly Come Dancing, his hopes for the future and the precious time he now gets to spend with his family…
What have you enjoyed the most about Strictly?
I’ve just loved the whole thing. It’s a great bunch of people and I’ve been taught something that doesn’t come naturally to me. My only experience of dancing was getting off the stool at the key change in Westlife!
Were you pleased to be paired with Karen Hauer?
Yeah she is great, she’s new and she is ambitious. I think she was under a lot a pressure too because of that illegal lift in week one.
You had a couple of bad weeks to start, how did that make you feel?
Under a lot of pressure! When you mess up, the dancers tell you to throw yourself into it but it’s hard. It didn’t look as bad on TV as it was in front of the judges.
How have you found the judges’ criticism?
I’ve learned to have a thick skin. I take it on board but I don’t lose any sleep over it. I was embarrassed, not because of what the judges said but because I knew I had gone wrong. I felt bad for people at home watching, they must have thought I was just like a really bad drunk dad at a wedding. Thankfully the public saved me.
Is the Strictly training schedule a shock to the system?
I’m quite fit in terms of aerobics so the walking and dancing I don’t find physically hard but I find it hard on my feet. The blisters are terrible and the arches in my feet ache from being in high heels. I’ve never experienced pain like that before. I can totally sympathise with all those women going out on the town on a Saturday night, I don’t know how you do it.
How do you keep fit normally?
I train with a guy in Ireland who is an ex Irish kick boxing champion. So I box quite a lot and do a lot of weight training. I train at least three or four days a week.
Who do you think will win Strictly this year?
Kimberly has a great chance to go all the way. I’m not sure if she’ll win but I think she’ll be in the final. Denise is fantastic, she should probably win it, she is the best dancer by a mile. I think Louis is certainly going to be up there, Dani is a great dancer, and Lisa has proved she can do really well too.
What have you found more challenging, performing in front of thousands of fans with Westlife or dancing on Strictly?
So far, definitely performing on Strictly. In Westlife there were four or five of us and we worked together. We were able to have bad gigs and we got away with it because no one was really judging us. The fans were mostly young girls who fancied us. In Strictly you’re watched by adults, on probably the biggest show on television, and it’s a big jump. We’re dancing in front of top notch dancers and 12million people on TV. I’m on my own, totally exposed, doing something I’ve never done before.
Do you keep in touch with all of your old mates from Westlife?
Yeah they’ve all been in touch to say good luck on Strictly. We spent 14 years together and now we’ve gone our separate ways. I feel like you need to give people space and that goes four ways. I’m not sure meeting up so soon and trying to continue like everything was the same would have been a good idea. It’s not like we’re on the phone every day and that makes it all better when you do meet up.
Is there a Westlife reunion on the cards?
No that’s definitely not on the cards.
Do you see your family more now or has the Strictly training got in the way?
Amazingly I arranged for my training to be in Dublin so it’s brilliant. My twin boys Jay and Rocco are just in primary school and for the first time in my life I actually feel like I’ve got a bit of structure, a bit of nine to five. I get up and have breakfast as a family and either Georgina, my wife, or myself with drop them to school then I’ll head into work or training and then I’m usually home by seven and we have dinner and put them to bed.
What did your boys think about seeing you on the show?
They love it! I recently presented a show in Ireland called Football’s Next Star, the one Jamie Redknapp did in the UK, and they were like ‘Ok Daddy’s going to be a TV presenter’. So when they saw me on Strictly they were like ‘Oh Daddy’s dancing now.’ I think I’m confusing them a little bit. But they are loving it and they give it loads in front of the TV when I’m dancing. One of them had tears in his eyes when I was getting bad comments from the judges.
Are their any signs of them following in your football, singing or dancing footsteps?
Whatever they want to do I’ll be happy. If I had a choice I’d love it if they wanted to get into football, but whatever makes them happy you know. You just got to show them the ropes and let them make their own decisions.
What have you got coming up next?
Nothing in concrete but I’d love to present TV or radio shows, or interview people on a chat show. There has also always been a dream inside me to do a bit of acting. The beautiful thing is, the world is my oyster. We were so confined in Westlife and rightly so, none of us were venturing off doing separate projects, we had that kind of unity. Now we are out there on our own and I am able to accept shows like Strictly.
Credit/Source: Sunday People
Strictly Come Dancing star Nicky Byrne has revealed that Louis Walsh has told him he will not win the competition.
The Westlife singer said his former manager had predicted that Olympian Louis Smith will take the title.
Byrne told The Sun: “Louis asked me, 'Do you think you'll win it?'.
“I said, 'Well, you see... ' and he said, 'No, you won't. Louis Smith will win it'.”
Nicky added: “I was like, 'Cheers, Louis'. But that's just him. He said to me afterwards, 'Listen, well done. The positive is you'll be able to dance when we do our reunion'.”
He claimed that Louis was hoping that Westlife would reunite in the future following their split in the summer.
Nicky said: “He is obviously convinced we are going to do a reunion. And then he said to me, 'Genuinely, I know how hard you need to work with Strictly, so the best of luck with it and hope it goes well'.
Westlife’s Nicky Byrne, 34, talks about Strictly Come Dancing, his hopes for the future and the precious time he now gets to spend with his family…
What have you enjoyed the most about Strictly?
I’ve just loved the whole thing. It’s a great bunch of people and I’ve been taught something that doesn’t come naturally to me. My only experience of dancing was getting off the stool at the key change in Westlife!
Were you pleased to be paired with Karen Hauer?
Yeah she is great, she’s new and she is ambitious. I think she was under a lot a pressure too because of that illegal lift in week one.
You had a couple of bad weeks to start, how did that make you feel?
Under a lot of pressure! When you mess up, the dancers tell you to throw yourself into it but it’s hard. It didn’t look as bad on TV as it was in front of the judges.
How have you found the judges’ criticism?
I’ve learned to have a thick skin. I take it on board but I don’t lose any sleep over it. I was embarrassed, not because of what the judges said but because I knew I had gone wrong. I felt bad for people at home watching, they must have thought I was just like a really bad drunk dad at a wedding. Thankfully the public saved me.
Is the Strictly training schedule a shock to the system?
I’m quite fit in terms of aerobics so the walking and dancing I don’t find physically hard but I find it hard on my feet. The blisters are terrible and the arches in my feet ache from being in high heels. I’ve never experienced pain like that before. I can totally sympathise with all those women going out on the town on a Saturday night, I don’t know how you do it.
How do you keep fit normally?
I train with a guy in Ireland who is an ex Irish kick boxing champion. So I box quite a lot and do a lot of weight training. I train at least three or four days a week.
Who do you think will win Strictly this year?
Kimberly has a great chance to go all the way. I’m not sure if she’ll win but I think she’ll be in the final. Denise is fantastic, she should probably win it, she is the best dancer by a mile. I think Louis is certainly going to be up there, Dani is a great dancer, and Lisa has proved she can do really well too.
What have you found more challenging, performing in front of thousands of fans with Westlife or dancing on Strictly?
So far, definitely performing on Strictly. In Westlife there were four or five of us and we worked together. We were able to have bad gigs and we got away with it because no one was really judging us. The fans were mostly young girls who fancied us. In Strictly you’re watched by adults, on probably the biggest show on television, and it’s a big jump. We’re dancing in front of top notch dancers and 12million people on TV. I’m on my own, totally exposed, doing something I’ve never done before.
Do you keep in touch with all of your old mates from Westlife?
Yeah they’ve all been in touch to say good luck on Strictly. We spent 14 years together and now we’ve gone our separate ways. I feel like you need to give people space and that goes four ways. I’m not sure meeting up so soon and trying to continue like everything was the same would have been a good idea. It’s not like we’re on the phone every day and that makes it all better when you do meet up.
Is there a Westlife reunion on the cards?
No that’s definitely not on the cards.
Do you see your family more now or has the Strictly training got in the way?
Amazingly I arranged for my training to be in Dublin so it’s brilliant. My twin boys Jay and Rocco are just in primary school and for the first time in my life I actually feel like I’ve got a bit of structure, a bit of nine to five. I get up and have breakfast as a family and either Georgina, my wife, or myself with drop them to school then I’ll head into work or training and then I’m usually home by seven and we have dinner and put them to bed.
What did your boys think about seeing you on the show?
They love it! I recently presented a show in Ireland called Football’s Next Star, the one Jamie Redknapp did in the UK, and they were like ‘Ok Daddy’s going to be a TV presenter’. So when they saw me on Strictly they were like ‘Oh Daddy’s dancing now.’ I think I’m confusing them a little bit. But they are loving it and they give it loads in front of the TV when I’m dancing. One of them had tears in his eyes when I was getting bad comments from the judges.
Are their any signs of them following in your football, singing or dancing footsteps?
Whatever they want to do I’ll be happy. If I had a choice I’d love it if they wanted to get into football, but whatever makes them happy you know. You just got to show them the ropes and let them make their own decisions.
What have you got coming up next?
Nothing in concrete but I’d love to present TV or radio shows, or interview people on a chat show. There has also always been a dream inside me to do a bit of acting. The beautiful thing is, the world is my oyster. We were so confined in Westlife and rightly so, none of us were venturing off doing separate projects, we had that kind of unity. Now we are out there on our own and I am able to accept shows like Strictly.
Credit/Source: Sunday People
Strictly Come Dancing star Nicky Byrne has revealed that Louis Walsh has told him he will not win the competition.
The Westlife singer said his former manager had predicted that Olympian Louis Smith will take the title.
Byrne told The Sun: “Louis asked me, 'Do you think you'll win it?'.
“I said, 'Well, you see... ' and he said, 'No, you won't. Louis Smith will win it'.”
Nicky added: “I was like, 'Cheers, Louis'. But that's just him. He said to me afterwards, 'Listen, well done. The positive is you'll be able to dance when we do our reunion'.”
He claimed that Louis was hoping that Westlife would reunite in the future following their split in the summer.
Nicky said: “He is obviously convinced we are going to do a reunion. And then he said to me, 'Genuinely, I know how hard you need to work with Strictly, so the best of luck with it and hope it goes well'.
Strictly's Nicky Byrne given fake tan order
04/11/2012 - 09:02
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Nicky Byrne has revealed that show bosses ordered him to get a fake tan after branding him 'too pasty'.
The Westlife singer, who performed the rumba with partner Karen Hauer on Saturday night's show, admitted that he had tried to avoid the process until show producers stepped in.
"I’d never had a spray tan. On week one I could hear the fake tan lady coming down the corridor saying 'next is Nicky', so I ran out the door into my car," he admitted.
"But then the following week the make-up artist said 'Nicky you’ve got to get a spray tan' and I was like 'No, I'm fine thanks'.
"But she said 'No, no – it's come from upstairs, you're looking too pasty and white. You have to get one'."
Nicky also revealed that his former manager Louis Walsh has told him he is unlikely to win the series - and is tipping one of his rivals for success instead.
"He said to me, 'Do you think you'll win?' I said, 'I’ll give it a good try. "He replied 'No you won't, Louis Smith will win'."
"I was like, 'Cheers, Louis', Nicky added. "But that's just him. He said to me afterwards, 'Listen, well done. The positive is you'll be able to dance when we do our reunion'."
...........The Westlife singer said that his former manager Walsh had predicted that Olympic medallist Louis Smith will be crowned the winner for 2012. 04/11/2012 - 09:02
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Nicky Byrne has revealed that show bosses ordered him to get a fake tan after branding him 'too pasty'.
The Westlife singer, who performed the rumba with partner Karen Hauer on Saturday night's show, admitted that he had tried to avoid the process until show producers stepped in.
"I’d never had a spray tan. On week one I could hear the fake tan lady coming down the corridor saying 'next is Nicky', so I ran out the door into my car," he admitted.
"But then the following week the make-up artist said 'Nicky you’ve got to get a spray tan' and I was like 'No, I'm fine thanks'.
"But she said 'No, no – it's come from upstairs, you're looking too pasty and white. You have to get one'."
Nicky also revealed that his former manager Louis Walsh has told him he is unlikely to win the series - and is tipping one of his rivals for success instead.
"He said to me, 'Do you think you'll win?' I said, 'I’ll give it a good try. "He replied 'No you won't, Louis Smith will win'."
"I was like, 'Cheers, Louis', Nicky added. "But that's just him. He said to me afterwards, 'Listen, well done. The positive is you'll be able to dance when we do our reunion'."
Byrne claimed that Walsh is hoping for a Westlife reunion in the future following their split in the summer. He also has hopes that the X Factor judge will be allowed to attend a Strictly live show if possible.
"He is obviously convinced we are going to do a reunion. And then he said to me, 'Genuinely, I know how hard you need to work with Strictly, so the best of luck with it and hope it goes well'.
"We will hopefully hook up on one of the Saturdays. I'd love him to come down but I don't think ITV will let him."
Speaking about his time on the show so far, Byrne revealed that his wife Georgina Ahern holds no jealousy towards his dancing partnership with Karen Hauer.
He said: "Georgina is very supportive and wants me to do my best. I don't think I'd be here if dancing with Karen was an issue.
"We've all got jobs to do and everyone is very professional. I've heard people have got together in the past but, no disrespect to Karen, it's not for me.
"I don't even feel sexy when I dance because I'm too busy counting. I could be dancing with anyone and all I'd be thinking is '1,2,3,4'."
On his chances of winning the show, he added: "I am very competitive and I want to do well but this is definitely the biggest challenge I have ever taken on.
"It's not that I think I can't win but I'm up against brilliant people. Denise van Outen is great and Kimberley Walsh is fantastic.
"Louis Smith is also really good and one of the favourites. There are at least five people above me at the moment. But who knows with this show? Anything can happen..............
During his time in Westlife he reigned at the top of the charts, but unfortunately Nicky failed to emulate that success on the dance floor and recently has only ruled the bottom of the leader board. Tonight he faced the music and was evicted from the competition following a fierce dance-off with Denise Van Outen.
This week’s Strictly Come Dancing had a special twist in which the dancers had to blend together two different styles of dance into one ‘dance fusion’, which of course added extra pressure to the celebrities. And with it being the quarter final, the competition was as tough as ever. But it proved too tough for poor Nicky as the judges decided it was his time to go.
Nicky and partner Karen had earlier performed an electric American Smooth/Quickstep to Olly Murs’ ‘Troublemaker.’
Predictably Craig unleashed a tirade of criticism, saying to the pair: “There wasn't any bounce - your posture was awful in the American Smooth,” before adding “I suspect that we're going to be seeing that dance again.”
The other judges provided some better news; Bruno said that Nicky “always gives 110% and I commend you for it.” Meanwhile head judge Len added “I though you came out and did a good job”
The judges scored Nicky and Karen a rather low 27 points, with grumpy Craig giving only five points. Unsurprisingly this score was booed by the audience.
Joining him in the dance-off was Denise and James- a shock contender for everyone considering that the pair has topped the leader board on countless occasions.
The pair had danced a Jive/Quickstep and it started off so well, but unfortunately Denise got her heel stuck in her dress and this didn’t go unnoticed by the judges. Bruno said, “You were going at the speed of light. Apart from that moment when you caught yourself, it was superb.”
Although the pair scored a commendable 35 points, this was still not enough to keep them out of the bottom two, and the upset was evident to see on Denise’ face.
When it came down the final dances, both couples gave it their all, but the judges had unanimously opted to save Denise and James.
Although disheartened, Nicky graciously accepted his fate. He went on to say that Strictly is “the biggest and best show in the world!” He then thanked the judges for their advice, the people backstage and of course his partner Karen- who had remarkably come a long way in the show considering it was her first year.
A tearful Karen also thanked the other celebs and the professional dancers, before adding that she couldn’t have asked for a better celeb in Nicky whom she said had “blew me away.”
This week’s Strictly Come Dancing had a special twist in which the dancers had to blend together two different styles of dance into one ‘dance fusion’, which of course added extra pressure to the celebrities. And with it being the quarter final, the competition was as tough as ever. But it proved too tough for poor Nicky as the judges decided it was his time to go.
Nicky and partner Karen had earlier performed an electric American Smooth/Quickstep to Olly Murs’ ‘Troublemaker.’
Predictably Craig unleashed a tirade of criticism, saying to the pair: “There wasn't any bounce - your posture was awful in the American Smooth,” before adding “I suspect that we're going to be seeing that dance again.”
The other judges provided some better news; Bruno said that Nicky “always gives 110% and I commend you for it.” Meanwhile head judge Len added “I though you came out and did a good job”
The judges scored Nicky and Karen a rather low 27 points, with grumpy Craig giving only five points. Unsurprisingly this score was booed by the audience.
Joining him in the dance-off was Denise and James- a shock contender for everyone considering that the pair has topped the leader board on countless occasions.
The pair had danced a Jive/Quickstep and it started off so well, but unfortunately Denise got her heel stuck in her dress and this didn’t go unnoticed by the judges. Bruno said, “You were going at the speed of light. Apart from that moment when you caught yourself, it was superb.”
Although the pair scored a commendable 35 points, this was still not enough to keep them out of the bottom two, and the upset was evident to see on Denise’ face.
When it came down the final dances, both couples gave it their all, but the judges had unanimously opted to save Denise and James.
Although disheartened, Nicky graciously accepted his fate. He went on to say that Strictly is “the biggest and best show in the world!” He then thanked the judges for their advice, the people backstage and of course his partner Karen- who had remarkably come a long way in the show considering it was her first year.
A tearful Karen also thanked the other celebs and the professional dancers, before adding that she couldn’t have asked for a better celeb in Nicky whom she said had “blew me away.”
..........Nicky Byrne has confessed he'd love to get into acting, and is eyeing a role in the West End.
The Westlife star and Strictly Come Dancing contestant revealed he has even considered a career in Hollywood.
Nicky said: "Acting is definitely something I'd consider. I did an acting course in New York about five years ago and I made a decision that one day I'd go to the States and try to get an agent. But times change. Now I'm married, with twin boys..."
But he added he's be interested in starring in a musical.
"Probably something like Grease, that'd be pretty cool. The songs and characters are so well known."
Westlife have decided to call it a day after 14 years, but Nicky insists he, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan will always be friends.
He said: "There are many reasons [why we split], but 14 years is a long, long time. You've got to remember that we started when we were kids, did everything we were told, and then what happens when you grow up is you develop your own opinions, and that changes things.
"I share a serious bond with the lads, and we'll never lose that bond. I like to think we'll be able to keep in touch and pick up the phone at any point."
Strictly viewers last night saw Nicky going through to next week after coming joint second on the leader board this week and getting three nine points from the judges, who said it was jus best performance yet.
Press Association
...........Nicky Byrne thinks his Strictly Come Dancing chum Michael Vaughan is just like David Beckham
The Westlife star and cricketing pro have struck up a real bromance during their time on the hit BBC1 show and Nicky has nothing but good things to say about his new pal.
He told Metro: ‘Michael Vaughan is the David Beckham of cricket. He’s got everything. He’s got talent, he’s got personality.
‘All he needs now is an underwear range and his poster on the side of buses.
‘He’s got everything. He’s great fun, he really is.’
.................Nicky: “It was brilliant. It took us time coming but it just goes to show what hard work does you know. We were that close to going home last week and then this week I just thought ‘we have to go for this’. This dance has so much character that you just really have to embrace it, smile and go for it. I was so delighted that I could do it justice basically.”
Karen do you think that being in the bottom two last week gave you and Nicky the motivation and drive to fight this week?
Karen: “Definitely. I mean being in the bottom two was the worst thing that could have ever happened but it really was the best thing for us because it gave us even more oomph and more fire and so when we went into that studio it really was ‘work, work, work’ with not that many breaks.”
..............Karen Hauer is the newest member of the Strictly Come Dancing professionals as she partners Westlife singer Nicky Byrne.
However, the Venezuelan pro certainly stood out from her peers on Saturday night's show as she raised temperatures in a very risque dress.
The 30-year-old dancer left little to the imagination as she performed the Argentine Tango in a tiny lace dress.
...........At one point she wrapped her legs around Nicky, nearly flashing her derriere to the cameras as they performed to Adele's James Bond theme song Skyfall, ending up with a score of 30.
...........
Nicky, the ninth celebrity to leave this year's competition, said it had been "so much fun" to be part of the "biggest and best show in the world".
None of us 'absolutely minted' after Westlife, admits Nicky Byrne
THEY sold more than 50 million albums, racked up 14 UK number ones and toured the world.
But none of the former members of Westlife are "absolutely minted", according to bandmate Nicky Byrne.
The 34-year-old, pictured right, has revealed how they all made poor business decisions and handled finances badly starting out.
"We have all lost money. We were all very foolish with money in the early days, we all bought cars and watches – the silly things.
"I don't think any of us were lucky," said Byrne.
The biggest financial meltdown was suffered by Shane Filan, who was declared bankrupt in a UK court earlier this year for outstanding debts of up to €23m.
However, his bandmate revealed how their income had dropped off by the end of their 14-year career.
"We did very well out of Westlife but everybody lives and spends," he said.
"In the early days we earned great money, and in the latter days it was all gone.
"We all looked after it as best we could but none of us are absolutely minted," he added.
The father of two revealed how he found life after Westlife "very strange", but said 'Strictly Come Dancing' helped him move on.
"Having been in Westlife, I thought we had got to a level where we had done it all. "But no, the fanbase for 'Strictly' is phenomenal. This was a different league and a different ballgame. Everywhere you went, people wanted to talk to you. I found it overwhelming," said Byrne.
Voted off 'Strictly' earlier this month, the former popstar said he now wants to move into TV presenting.
"At this time of the year we would usually be very busy promoting an album. I'm not the sort of person who likes to sit around and do nothing."
THEY sold more than 50 million albums, racked up 14 UK number ones and toured the world.
But none of the former members of Westlife are "absolutely minted", according to bandmate Nicky Byrne.
The 34-year-old, pictured right, has revealed how they all made poor business decisions and handled finances badly starting out.
"We have all lost money. We were all very foolish with money in the early days, we all bought cars and watches – the silly things.
"I don't think any of us were lucky," said Byrne.
The biggest financial meltdown was suffered by Shane Filan, who was declared bankrupt in a UK court earlier this year for outstanding debts of up to €23m.
However, his bandmate revealed how their income had dropped off by the end of their 14-year career.
"We did very well out of Westlife but everybody lives and spends," he said.
"In the early days we earned great money, and in the latter days it was all gone.
"We all looked after it as best we could but none of us are absolutely minted," he added.
The father of two revealed how he found life after Westlife "very strange", but said 'Strictly Come Dancing' helped him move on.
"Having been in Westlife, I thought we had got to a level where we had done it all. "But no, the fanbase for 'Strictly' is phenomenal. This was a different league and a different ballgame. Everywhere you went, people wanted to talk to you. I found it overwhelming," said Byrne.
Voted off 'Strictly' earlier this month, the former popstar said he now wants to move into TV presenting.
"At this time of the year we would usually be very busy promoting an album. I'm not the sort of person who likes to sit around and do nothing."
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