“THEY have soundtracked the nation through more than a quarter of a century. But as they sit down with Bizarre in a velvet covered box at the Royal Albert Hall, Westlife admit they have zero plans to slow down and will keep on performing so long as their “hips and fans” allow it. Sign up”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
But as they sit down with Bizarre in a velvet covered box at the Royal Albert Hall, Westlife admit they have zero plans to slow down and will keep on performing so long as their “hips and fans” allow it.
Thank you!
Westlife have vowed to keep performing into their 80s at their recent Albert Hall showCredit: Getty
Westlife with The Sun’s Jack HardwickCredit: Supplied And after returning to the stage and announcing a 2026 arena tour, following two sold out shows at the iconic London venue this week, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan have never felt younger.
Kian tells us: “Seeing the reaction to these gigs, it makes you want to do it for longer and longer. It makes you want to go for another 25 years.
“If the audience wants to continue to see us and if we still have the legs and the hips to do it, why not? I mean, people can say, ‘Oh, you can’t be doing it when you’re old,’ but why not? We can do it.”
Nicky says: “When we were kids, Take That were the biggest pop band in the world and I think they’re ten years ahead of us. You look at the level of shows and success, and they continue to bring joy to people of their era.
“They are three at the moment and they’re putting on amazing shows and selling stadiums across the world.
“At 47 I go, ‘You know what? There’s a lot of s*** in the world. So if you can bring joy to somebody’s life and your own, why not?’”
Shane continues: “I think the energy levels we have now, it feels like we’re in our first year again. It’s really weird. We’ve got this new energy.
“You look back at it all and go, ‘What we did in that 25 years is very special, but we’re so excited about the future’.”
The screams were deafening at their first Royal Albert Hall show on Monday, so does it ever become “normal” to elicit that reaction?
Kian says: “We don’t expect it. We haven’t done a gig in the UK in a few years and to come back and do it again, we are always nervous for the reaction. Are people going to still love us or are we fading away?
“You feel so grateful and you get overwhelmed at times. It’s a massive pat on the back. It makes us kind of cherish what we have a little bit more and make us realise how lucky we are to have what we have.”
Since their debut single Swear It Again in 1999, we have gone through two millennia, eight Prime Ministers, CDs have come and gone and streaming and social media has not only been invented, but changed our lives.
Over that time, the five-piece have become a three-man band, with the departure of Brian McFadden in 2004 and Mark Feehily recently stepping back due to health issues.
However, while Mark isn’t on the tour, he is on the group’s new tunes, including their Ed Sheeran-penned single Chariots.
Addressing Mark’s absence, Kian said: “Mark is still very much a member of Westlife, he’s just not able to tour at the minute.
“There’s still four members in Westlife. There’s just three in the tour next year. But as soon as Mark feels up to it, you know, we’re really excited to have him back.”
Mark Feehily recently stepped back due to health issuesCredit: Getty On Friday, tickets will go on sale for Westlife’s 25th Anniversary tour, which kicks off with 13 nights in Dublin next September.
Shows are set to take place in arenas in almost every major city in the UK.
Asked if the secret to being in peak fitness comes from cutting out booze prompts Kian to grimace: “Hell no!”
Shane says: “I think it’s a healthy medium. We all train. We like to keep ourselves looking, young, feeling young, not just for the show but for our children. It’s a busy life too outside of Westlife.”
To still get on as a group is remarkable, but their closeness is to be admired.
Shane explains: “We share dressing sometimes and we just understand each other. We respect each other.
“Of course, we’re normal guys too, we have fallouts and disagreements over certain things, but it’s always to try and make the band better… It’s never personal stuff.
“We got to know each other very well in the first few years and we got to find out what we didn’t like about each other and then we tried to not tap into that has broken up nearly every band.
“We just love what we do. We naturally get on well and we love being on the road together.”
And how does life in Westlife now compare to back in the day?
Shane adds: “100 percent, we are enjoying it more now.
“I think we were going through the motions at the end of the first run of the band.
“We did like nine albums in a row in nine years, which is something I don’t think any band has ever done that. We never got time to breathe.
“We are competitive. We want the upcoming show to be bigger and better than the last.”
FIVE STARS
IT’s been three years since Westlife last performed in the UK.
Since then, they are a man down, with Mark stepping back due to health reasons.
But while, of course, it would have been nice for all four members to be on stage at the Royal Albert Hall this week, it’s safe to say their triumphant return never felt underwhelming.
In fact Nicky, Shane and Kian delivered a flaw-free, suitably cheesy show which left little doubt that over 25 years into their career, they are still in their prime.
As soon as the trio opened with 2001 hit World Of Our Own, the iconic venue descended into a middle aged hen party – in the best way possible.
And it’s clear a passion to perform is behind the lads’ return to the stage, rather than going through the motions.
Throughout their two-hour set, Nicky, Shane and Kian couldn’t help but laugh and joke with each other in-between songs.
More than a nostalgic trip down memory lane, this show was carefree fun with top tier vocals to boot.
If you’re a Westlife fan, you’ve got a lot to look forward to on next year’s arena tour.
Oasis give Richard extra Verve
RIchard Ashcroft says he’s been inspired to start work on his next albumCredit: Getty RICHARD ASHCROFT’s incredible opening sets for Oasis on their Live ’25 shows reminded fans just why they love him.
Now the rocker says he’s been inspired to start work on his next album.
The Verve frontman, whose latest LP Lovin’ You came out this month, told the How Long Gone podcast: “This summer is going to be a catalyst for whatever goes on for me in the next few years.
“I always look at people like Johnny Cash near the end of his career. He was producing such strong, authentic material. Van Morrison continues to push.
“If John Lennon would have lived and he was still around at 80, I’m sure the last ten years we’d still be discussing what John was up to.
“Some people hit a wall and they never seem to manage to climb it.
“This Oasis tour, I am sure, has kind of smashed a few concepts that you put on yourself about the possibilities.”
Maya has a Baller
Maya Jama celebrating on the touchline at a Baller League match – where her team MVPs wonCredit: Darren Fletcher
They beat Idris Elba’s Rukas FC 2-1 at the Copperbox Arena in East LondonCredit: Darren Fletcher MAYA Jama was in full football fan mode as she cheered on her Baller League team.
The indoor six-a-side tournaments has proved to be a big hit, and the Love Island host has a good reason to celebrate as the team she manages – MVPs – won.
They beat Idris Elba’s Rukas FC 2-1 at the Copperbox Arena in Stratford, East London.
She has had a crash course in football, dating Man City and Portugal footballer Rúben Dias.
Move aside Thomas Tuchel.
Leigh-Anne: Andre playing so far away is real Turkey
Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock has revealed the challenges she faces with her fiancé, footballer Andre Gray, playing in TurkeyCredit: Alamy LONG-distance romances are never easy – just ask Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
The Little Mix singer has revealed the challenges she faces with her fiancé, footballer Andre Gray, playing for Turkish club Fatih Karagumruk.
Striker Andre signed for the club earlier this year, following stints playing in Greece and Saudi Arabia.
Leigh-Anne said: “With my husband living abroad, we probably see each other, maybe if we are lucky, three days in a month. It’s so s**t.”
Appearing on Chris and Rosie Ramsey’s Shagged, Married, Annoyed podcast, Leigh-Anne added: “We have been doing that for three years.
“They [the twins] have just turned four.”
It’s not just Leigh-Anne who is finding it hard, as she admitted Andre is struggling too.
Given former Watford and Burnley player Andre is not far off retirement from the game, I am sure in a couple of years this nightmare will become a distant memory.