Wayne, 22, pointed to Coleen as he belted out the words with Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan on Thursday. Swear It Again includes the romantic lines: "You should know this love we share was never made to die." Wayne forked out £400,000 to hire the Irish boyband - Coleen's favourite group. Their performance was the climax of the multi-million pound wedding in Santa Margherita Ligure.

6.06.08

Westlife: Our Story Signings

It's the news you've all been waiting for – Westlife will be travelling throughout the UK & Ireland for in-store signings of Westlife: Our Story! Entry to the signings is on a first come, first served basis, so make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment.

6/16
Waterstones Piccadilly, London 12.30 – 14.30
WH Smith, Lakeside 17.30 – 18.30

6/17
WH Smith, Milton Keynes 12.30 – 13.30

6/18
June Waterstones, Liverpool 12.30 – 13.30
WH Smith, Manchester Trafford Centre 18.00 – 19.00

6/19
Easons, Dublin 12.30 – 13.30
Easons, Belfast 17.30 – 18.30

6/20
Easons Franchise, Sligo 12.30 – 13.30
Hughes & Hughes, Galway 17.30 – 18.30

Westlife = Take That

This week Westlife equalled Take That's record of the most ever performances at Manchester's M.E.N Arena. And after accepting their commemorative plaques to celebrate 27 gigs at the concert venue on Wednesday night, they vowed they'd be back soon to smash that figure and overtake Gary Barlow and co.

An arena spokesman said: “The Irish superstars have now sold over 325,000 tickets at the venue since their debut here in February 2001. “And on Wednesday night the boys promised they'd be back to overtake their local rivals, Take That, to be crowned the biggest selling act of all time at the arena.” Ooh, fighting talk, lads. I hear the hearthrob foursome – Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, were also chuffed to bits to receive four Manchester United shirts emblazoned with their names, and “27” to commemorate their record-equalling achievement, as they're all massive Reds fans.

6.04.08

Bash after Croke Park

Westlife celebrated their triumphant Croke Park concert over the weekend by partying into the early hours with friends and family at an exclusive after-show party. The bash took place at Floridita on Dublin's Abbey Street. The band was joined by friends and family, including manager Louis Walsh and ex-Ireland soccer international David O'Leary.

Band members Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily made a quick dash to the Four Seasons Hotel after the gig to scrub up before arriving at the after show party. The nightclub was decked out in Westlife regalia, including an ice sculpture commemorating the band's 10 years at the top of the charts. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, whose daughter Georgina is married to band member Nicky Byrne, seemingly had enough enjoyment for one night and headed home after the concert. But Mr Ahern's ex-wife Miriam was among the revellers, as was his daughter Cecelia and seven die-hard Westlife fans from Manchester who gatecrashed the event after they found out the party's secret location.

Westlife performs rescheduled concert

Westlife will play their postponed M.E.N. Arena concert tonight (6/4). The band had to scrap the show last month when Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan became unwell. Tickets issued for all their postponed dates will be honoured at the new shows. In a statement Westlife said: "We are very sorry again, to have to postpone these shows. We apologise to all our fans, but hope that you understand that we want to put on a great show for you all, and we want Shane and Nicky to be one hundred per cent fit to do this. Hold on to your tickets, and we'll see you soon." The other rescheduled concert dates are: Tuesday June 24 Nottingham Arena, and Wednesday June 25 Cardiff CIA.

6.03.08

Your private Westlife concert for only $784,000 (£400,000)

Football superstar Wayne Rooney and bride-to-be Coleen McLoughlin are to pay out a reported £400,000 for Irish boyband Westlife to perform at their lavish wedding. In what is set to be the celebrity wedding of the year, the Manchester United striker is set to wed his childhood sweetheart at a ceremony in the Italian resort of Portofino on June 14 — with the entertainment provided by Coleen's favourite group.

Fresh from another spate of sell-out gigs at Belfast's Odyssey Arena, which has hosted no less than 50 by Westlife, Shane, Mark, Kian and Nicky are set to perform their hits to the couple and their guests. However, Wayne (22) and Coleen (23) will receive an estimated £2.5m after signing a deal with a glossy magazine to cover the wedding. But, they are set to match that amount with their own money —since the cost of the wedding is set to top the £5m mark.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Coleen is shelling out a reported £200,000 just for her wedding dress. It is being made in New York by British designer Georgina Chapman. A source is quoted in the newspaper as saying the dress "is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen." The source went on to reveal it is "stunning" with " hand-stitched pearls on the most beautiful fabric". Pre-wedding celebrations — including Wayne's stag weekend in Ibiza and several hen celebrations — have already set the couple back an estimated £1m.

Coleen has enjoyed several girlie breaks in the run-up to her big day and is jetting off to the Canary Islands for her third hen party this week. Relatives will be mixing with a host of famous faces such as boxer Ricky Hatton at the reception, which is being held in the 700-year old former abbey of La Cervara. Guests have been advised to leave their wallets and purses behind as the happy couple will be footing the bill for everything. The wedding package for the 65 invited guests will include being jetted out from the UK for the four-day celebration.

They will be treated to lunch aboard a luxury yacht, a masked ball and champagne breakfast every morning. The source revealed: "Wayne has budgeted for £10,000 a head. He doesn't want anyone paying for anything. He wants to do it all himself. "It is excessive but so is Wayne's wealth and he wants to share it. "This is an important time for him and Coleen. It's only going to happen once so they want it to be perfect." The source also revealed Coleen wants her wedding to be "the biggest wedding of the year, if not the decade." "Both of them want to make their stamp as king and queen of the football world in a way that even the Beckhams weren't able to do." It is understood that once they return from their secret honeymoon, the couple will hold a second reception in their home town of Liverpool.

Even Chris Martin dreams of Westlife

Coldplay's Chris Martin has revealed that he has dreams about Radiohead and Westlife. "I dreamed about Radiohead last night and Westlife the night before," he said. "Which is the perfect blend of what we're trying to do musically. I always dream about other musicians. And they're never interested in hanging out with us".

Westlife @ Croke Park

Westlife lived the dream as they wowed 82,000 fans at a sold-out Croke Park last night. The Westlife lads arrived on stage to the sort of roar normally reserved for a goal by home team Dublin in the All-Ireland Final. With an explosion of fireworks, and dwarfed by crazed dancers on stilts, they launched into 'Hit You With The Real Thing' then 'World of Our Own'.

The group tore through a selection of hits, including 'What Makes a Man' and 'Uptown Girl', which got the sea of fans, some wearing bunny ears and carrying banners, singing and dancing. The set was huge, with massive screens beaming the boys' every move to the people below. Kian Egan told the crowd it was a perfect 10th birthday present for the band. "To be here in our national stadium in front of over 85,000 people is unbelievable," he said.

Mick O'Dwyer's Wicklow GAA football team were denied a game on the hallowed Croker turf because of the weekend gig. Instead, legions of fans wearing plastic cowboy hats swamped the stadium and lapped up hits from the Irish foursome and support act Shayne Ward. There was a multicultural feel to the crowd, with supporters in this gig hailing from as far afield as the USA and Australia. Unsurprisingly, most of the fans were female and travelled from all over the country and even further to see their idols who were enjoying their biggest-ever headlining gig. Cauldron By the end of the show at 11pm Croke Park was a cauldron of emotion -- with the band themselves at the centre of it all. In an impassioned speech to the throng they described the gig as the peak of their careers.

Nicky Byrne paid tribute to his family including wife Georgina Ahern, father-in-law Bertie Ahern who is understood to have been in the crowd, and his own children Rocco and Jay. The uplifting finale saw the band dressed in white suits as they led thousands through 'You Raise Me Up'. They also switched direction with a cheeky cover of The Jackson 5's 'Blame it on the Boogie'.

Linda Whaley (18) and Sarah Dunne (16) had travelled to Croker from Laois. Maintaining she was not a "really big fan" of Westlife, Linda was clear about what she was there for. "I'm looking forward to Shayne Ward," she said, blushing slightly. "But I'll still be up the front throwing my Bridget Jones knickers [at Westlife] on stage." Ward warmed up the crowd nicely. He mixed pop with trad when he performed a version of 'The Fields of Athenry' and won a roar from the crowd when he said: "I'm proud to be Irish".

English fans Caroline Shaw (24) and Julie Kennedy (28) headed into the concert sporting T-shirts they had printed especially for the occasion, showing both of them with band member Mark Feehily. "I've seen them at least 50 times," said Caroline, who last saw the pop supergroup in March. "We had to come over for Croke Park. We've been going to the Point gigs for the last four years." For others, it was all about the kids, with hordes of parents bringing their children.

Westlife in Belfast

Just a few days after Boyzone made their long awaited comeback at the Odyssey Arena, Westlife showed Belfast that they weren’t going to be upstaged by their Irish predecessors with a thrilling show last night. With more than 40 million records sold worldwide, Nicky, Kian, Mark and Shane are even bigger than ever and refuse to go down the boyband route — taken by the likes of Boyzone, Take That and the Backstreet Boys — of breaking up after just a few years to make way for the next teen music success story. For ten years a range of bands have come and gone and come back again. S Club 7, Blue, Atomic Kitten and Busted have all attempted to take the teen music crown, yet Westlife continue to do the impossible and grow with their audience while retaining their massive popularity. Last night’s show at the Odyssey Arena, their record breaking 50th in Belfast and part of their Back Home tour, was a feast for the eyes and ears with all the hits rolled into one big blanket of ballads, including What Makes A Man and Uptown Girl. With a mainly female audience you can see why the four Irish lads have such a following, as they play to the crowd with their good looks, whiter than white smiles and numerous inoffensive pop ballads. While perhaps not on a par with the king of boy bands, Take That, there is no denying their ability to captivate an audience. And there is no sign that they plan to give it all up just yet. When Boyzone finish their comeback tour what’s the betting Westlife will be preparing for their next big album and tour? Here’s to another ten years boys!

Westlife postpone 2 shows

Westlife have been forced to postpone two shows on their tour after two members of the boy band fell ill. The group apologised after calling off Monday evening's concert at the Nottingham Arena and Tuesday's show at Cardiff International Arena. They said doctors had advised Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne to rest after they became ill. The tour is due to continue at the Birmingham NEC on Thursday and in Manchester's MEN on Friday. Rescheduled dates for the postponed shows will be announced shortly, the Irish band said. In a statement, Westlife said: "We are very sorry to have to postpone these shows at such short notice, we apologise to all our fans, and we can't wait to get back out there and put on a great show for you. "Hold onto your tickets and we'll see you soon, Westlife." The band - which also includes members Kian Egan and Mark Feehily - have had 14 number one singles in the UK, including Flying Without Wings and Fool Again.

A Westlife fan's car

A star covered car amazed Sheffield's ultimate Westlife fan Leanne Knowles – when she found her early 21st birthday present was plastered with the faces of her Irish idols. Leanne, who isn't actually 21 until September, was presented with the customised car by mum Maxine in time for the show by her heroes at the Sheffield Arena on Sunday. "It was mum who arranged all this," said Leanne at the family home in Moorthorpe Way, Owlthorpe. She said: "I already had my Vauxhall Corsa as an early birthday present but it had problems with its exhaust and she said it had to go into the garage to be fixed. "A call came that it was ready to be picked up, and we went, and I saw it on the forecourt and I said, 'That's not my car!' "I couldn't believe what had happened to it. But I love it so much. My friends have seen it and they are astonished too. "Nicky's my favourite band member and so he has pride of place on the bonnet. But they're all great."

Maxine is keeping quiet about how much the unusual artwork cost, but it's believed there wasn't much change from £1,000. The car has turned heads wherever Leanne goes, and she says it wasn't long before she was stopped by the police – but only because they wanted to take photos of the customised creation! The Corsa was also the centre of attention when Leanne went to the Arena for last week's Shayne Ward show. Leanne works at a wholesale warehouse – but says following Westlife is her real job. She's been a fan for more than 10 years, when the band was first formed, and has seen them in concert countless times since then. Leanne even got to meet the lads four years ago when she was ill in hospital. She was disappointed that shows in Nottingham and Manchester had to be cancelled due to illness in the band, making the Sheffield date even more important – although she is off to shows in London and Dublin. She said: "I camped out to get tickets for Sheffield and I was in the very front row. I took the car of course – I'm so proud of it, I just can't put it into words."

Hope supports Westlife

Singing starlet Charlie Mole and her band Hope are celebrating after being asked to tour with Irish boy bands Westlife and Boyzone. And Sunderland mum Charlie, 23, who shot to fame during last year's X Factor competition, is now being managed by John Giddings – who has Madonna, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie on his books. Hope now also have the same PR company as the Spice Girls, and are looking to launch their first single in September. Charlie, from Hill View, Sunderland, said: "The last six months have been up and down, but at the moment it's really going well. We're really excited." Hope supported Westlife at their gig in Sheffield on Sunday, and will soon start a six-date tour with Boyzone.

They have been working ten hours a day on choreography and have also been promoting the band with various public appearances and interviews. "It'll be a lot of fun," Charlie said. "I'm looking forward to meeting them." Charlie described Hope's new single as electro-pop. She said: "It's quite a different sound, it's something people would not expect. It's really different and we're really excited." Charlie is now primarily based in London and is looking into eventually moving there with her six-year-old son Jack. But she comes home to Sunderland as much as she can, and was recently at the Stadium of Light handing out awards to pupils at St Aidan's School. Charlie and fellow bandmates Racquelle Gracie, Phoebe Brown, Emily Biggs and Leah Launder beat thousands of hopefuls to be named one of the final 12 acts on the X Factor last year. Mentored by music mogul Simon Cowell, the group made it to the final five, but were voted off after being in the bottom two three times in four weeks. The competition was won by Scottish heart throb Leon Jackson.

5.18.08

Westlife in New Plymouth, NZ

Westlife flew into New Plymouth this afternoon, touching down to a stirring powhiri in front of about 300 eager fans. New Plymouth mayor Peter Tennent welcomed the lads, following a haka performed by Kanohi Ki Te Kanohi. Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, were then presented with Taranaki rugby jerseys as a memento of their stay.

Nicky thanked the crowd for the "interesting" welcome and sent their best wishes to the truck driver seriously injured when a truck and trailer carrying the band's lighting gear rolled in heavy fog near Pio Pio about 4.30am this morning. Kian said facing the haka was a special moment, especially being a big rugby fan. "You can see why people get intimidated by it, but when you know the meaning it's nice," he said. This morning's crash will not delay the show, which gets underway at 8pm tonight at the TSB Stadium.

Westlife in New Plymouth, part 2

More than 3000 boy band fans packed into New Plymouth's TSB Stadium for Irish pop group Westlife's concert last night. There was chaos on New Plymouth streets as eager fans tried to find a car park, with Coronation Ave clogged with nose-to-tail traffic. Fans turned up in outfits ranging from the conservative to the ridiculous, with three teenagers wearing matching outfits. The outfits included black stockings, belts, glowing head bands and oversized white T-shirts with I Love Westlife hand-painted on them. As well as all their hits including Seasons in the Sun, Flying Without Wings, If I Let You Go, and Swear It Again, they played songs from their latest album Back Home.

The band arrived at New Plymouth Airport yesterday afternoon to a flurry of eager fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the celebrities. Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan were welcomed by Mayor Peter Tennent, followed by a haka performedby Kanohi Ki Te Kanohi. The band also sent their best wishes to a truck driver, who was seriously injured after the truck carrying the band's gear rolled early yesterday morning. The crash happened near Mokau and the driver was taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital. Last night's concert was the final for their first New Zealand tour, which saw the band perform in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Westlife in New Plymouth, part 3

It is not easy being international stars – especially when you are not clued up on local customs. Irish boy-band Westlife were not sure what to do when they landed in New Plymouth for the last leg of their New Zealand tour and were greeted with a powhiri. They are used to 'Flying Without Wings', but today they took the conventional approach, flying into town. And, while fans were anxious to see them, the boys were not so anxious to be seen. They had hoped to sneak in through a private door at the airport. Instead they received the traditional greeting – a powhiri.

"We've never had a welcome like that before," says the group's Mark Feehily. "It was truly stunning to be honest, and very heart-warming." They are in New Plymouth for the last night of their five-show tour. It was marred this morning when a truck, carrying some of their gear, skidded on black ice and overturned. He was seriously enough injured to be spending tonight in Waikato Hospital.

"The show is going ahead," says New Plymouth mayor Peter Tennant. "It will be a top show. If it's not the world best I'll be surprised." There was just enough time to receive Tarankai rugby shirts, and then they were off. 3 News shared the short hop from Auckland to New Plymouth with the Westlife boys, not that they were keen to see us. They were not too thrilled either with the two fans who asked for their autographs. And they are the only band who have been greeted with a Tarankai welcome and failed to respond with a song of their own. Let's hope they warm up in time for tonight.

5.08.08

An interview with Westlife in New Zealand

Over the past decade boy bands have come and gone and so have the number of people who admit to being fans. So when Nightline found out Westlife were coming down under, straws were drawn to decide who would get to do the interview, until it became clear there was a closet fan amongst us... Charlotte Tonkin.

Over the years Westlife have sold 36 million records, won loads of awards, and captured many hearts, including my own. And while they were feeling the love in Christchurch today, they were also feeling a bit chilly. “My God it's cold, by the way,” says Nicky Byrne, the short one. In 1998 their target market was teenage girls, fond of knee length jackets and matching outfits. “There are very few ten, 12, even fifteen-year-olds out there now. Our crowds have changed, like a lot of the girls who were 15 are now 25," says Byrne.

That was pretty much bang on, and it was time to let these Irish lads know I was ‘flying without wings’ at the thought of interviewing them. But sadly it was a task thwart with like minded individuals. Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker hogged the quartet from the start. “So do I just shut up and leave you to ask the questions,” he asked. Yes! But he did not, and then a local fan commandeered the Irish lads, leaving me with no choice but to woo them with food, local food, Pineapple Lumps.

Which went down so well I forgot to listen to what Mark was saying... “This is nice by the way, a bit dangerous though, you could pull a tooth out,” says Shane Filan. Then it was onto some searching questions... “Who's the most likely to leave the toilet seat up?”

“All of us. We're men,” says Westlife. Not a great start. Mirrors are also a must have for the boys. “I think we're all very vain,” was the Westlife answer. Pretty boys? Maybe, but also very sweet and nice enough to let me have a photo. And for the record that was the first time they had ever had a Polaroid picture taken.

2nd interview with Westlife in New Zealand

Well, love 'em or hate them there is no denying Irish boy band Westlife are a world wide hit, and fans around the world are reduced to tears in their presence. The band of four play their first concert tonight in Christchurch and as 3 News found out, they are just a group of nice young guys who have struck it very big.

Westlife are accustomed to arriving on stages like Wembley to audiences of thousands, but today Westlife arrived to a small room in Christchurch to tell us how wonderful it was to be here, and surprisingly for international megastars, they actually seemed sincere. “To come down to a place like New Zealand it is not very often you get to do that, as if said we're at the farthest place away from Ireland without going the other way back and it's pretty cool to be selling out gigs down here, says Shane Filan.

The Irish foursome have sold 36 millions records worldwide and only the Beatles and Elvis have had more UK number one singles than Westlife's fourteen. The group set a record with seven consecutive number one singles. “We had sold something like fifteen million albums in the first two years of our careers, so it still hasn't really hit us to the extent of how big it's become or what it is what we actually do and I don't think it probably will until it's all over and done with”, says Kian Egan.

This is the first time Westlife have played New Zealand and their fans are welcoming them with open arms, one fan got an unexpected chance to meet them at today's press conference. “I really don't have words to describe what that was like, it was the most incredible thing that could ever happen to me,” says Westlife fan Jucinda Hall. There is no denying their success and there is something else they are not denying.. “We are all very vain. I’ll be straight up and honest, I think we're all very into our looks and all that but it's because we're on telly so much, you get paranoid and think I didn't look like that,” admits Shane Filan.

And as expected tonight the lads will be well-dressed, but not in their usual white outfits... The boys are ‘flying without luggage,’ a missing suitcase means the boys will be wearing New Zealand made suits from Ballantynes for tonight’s show.

3rd interview with Westlife in New Zealand

What do you ask one of the world's biggest bands when they have probably heard every conceivable question many times over? Answer: Turn to the fans. When the Herald was given a chance to talk to Irish heart-throbs Westlife in Christchurch yesterday, this journalist stood aside, and long-time fan Kristy Lyttle stepped up.

Westlife, with 40 million albums sold and nearly as many number one hits as the Beatles, started their New Zealand tour with a sold-out show in Christchurch last night and will finish with a concert in Auckland on Monday that has been added because of the huge demand for tickets. A self-described "old school fan", Miss Lyttle, 25, has followed thefortunes of Westlife since she was a teenager. But even before the seed analyst got to the hotel function room for the interview of her life, the anxiety almost became too much. "When I was first asked, I had a little freak-out," she said. "I've never met a celebrity before."

Amid the hustle and bustle of interviews and photographs, a highly stressed Miss Lyttle was thrust before the band before she knew it, and was delving into her carefully considered questions.

Miss Lyttle: Growing up, you guys were on our bedroom walls; who was on your bedroom walls?
Nicky Byrne recalled posters of Kylie Minogue and busty Baywatch actress Erika Eleniak, while fellow band member Mark Feehily remembered pictures of Mariah Carey and Claudia Schiffer among many.

Miss Lyttle: If you could be anyone else, and have any other job for a day, what would it be and why?
An eclectic mix of answers: Tiger Woods, pro surfer Kelly Slater, Brad Pitt and Prince.

Miss Lyttle: What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever given you?
Band member Kian Egan: We've had some, not just weird stuff, but pretty disgusting stuff as well, and I won't go into too much detail. There's stuff that could be funny weird - I was given a potato once, Mark was given a turnip.

Miss Lyttle: Is there one Westlife song you guys are just sick to the gills of singing?
Mark Feehily: We have recorded literally over 200 songs, so I think there probably are a few. Shane Filan: The ones that we don't sing that much are the ones we don't like much. With the interview complete, and a photograph with the band to remember it, Miss Lyttle's job was done. "You've made my day," she said, "you've made my year."

A day in Christchurch, NZ

Westlife lapped up the relaxed charms of Christchurch ahead of the Irish band's first sellout concert in New Zealand at the Westpac Arena last night. After an eloquent This Is Your Life Westlife-style introduction by Mayor Bob Parker, the band -- Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan -- said they were enjoying the relative anonymity of Christchurch.

"I had breakfast at the Swiss Cafe and it was nice to be able to sit there undisturbed. Eventually the cafe owner came out and said `are you one of them?' and I said `yes'. He's coming to the show tonight," Byrne said. Since being signed by Simon Cowell, Westlife has sold more than 36 million records worldwide and has had 14 UK No. 1 singles -- the third highest in history -- tying with Cliff Richard and trailing Elvis Presley and The Beatles. The band is keen to make it 15

. "We've been tied with Cliff Richard for a wee while now," Filan said. "We'd like to get that 15th". Byrne laughed when asked about the group's strangest fan experience. "A lot of girls seem to get us tattooed on their backs for some reason. I feel sorry for their boyfriends. The last girl we saw who'd done that... Shane didn't look too good." Filan: "Yes, I was stretched." Byrne: "Shane was on her shoulderblade, I think that was why".

The group also answered deep questions such as: "Who spends the most time looking in the mirror?" Answer? "All of us, we have to look good". Filan and Egan disagreed somewhat on who used the most hair product, with Egan telling Filan that "mousse, gel and that" are hair products Filan used and that he was the worst offender.

The lads are keen to shrug off the boy band title, saying it suited them when they started but not now. A reporter presented the group with Pineapple Lump bars which Byrne and Filan tried to eat: "You could break a tooth on that," Byrne said through hearty chews before going on to add that the band hoped to recruit a new coach for the Irish rugby team while in New Zealand. A Christchurch schoolteacher who won a meet-and-greet competition on The Breeze radio station then went up to meet her favourite Westlifer, Filan, for a quick hug and a few autographs.

Kian and Jodie

Kian whisked his fiancée Jodi Albert off to Barbados for a romantic getaway. The singer took advantage of a break in the band's reunion tour to head to the Caribbean, where he was spotted taking a beach stroll with the former Hollyoaks actress before heading off for a surf. Kian, who will next perform with his group in Christchurch, New Zealand in May, recently said the couple are on the hunt for a perfect destination for their upcoming wedding.

He said: "We haven't a date yet and have no idea where it's going to be. We are planning to travel a lot so we'll be searching for our dream location - it could be anywhere." His band mates have already begun plotting his stag do. Mark Feehily has said: "There will have to be some drinking of course, but there'll be no stripper - he's too classy for that."

The couple became engaged in December after almost four and a half years together. Kian follows in the footsteps of bandmates Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne, who married their long-term girlfriends in 2003. Mark is in a relationship with partner Kevin McDaid. Their former bandmate, Brian McFadden, divorced I'm A Celebrity winner Kerry Katona in 2006 and recently announced his engagement to Australian singer Delta Goodrem.

5.07.08

Westlife in New Zealand

10 years after they burst onto the pop music scene and almost 40 million records later, Westlife have finally touched down in New Zealand. The band staged a media conference in Christchurch this morning, ahead of their first concert in New Zealand, a sell-out, at the Westpac Arena tonight. The band members said they were enjoying Christchurch's hospitality and the relative anonymity it offered, despite the near freezing temperatures. ``My God it's cold by the way,'' band member Nicky Byrne said, adding that the band had already been into town scouring shop racks for winter woollies. Concerts are also scheduled in Wellington, Auckland and New Plymouth during the next week.

Westlife in good fashion

....Other fashion winners for the boys included visiting Irish boy band Westlife who radiated glam factor and stole the hearts of both their male and female fans with their handsome looks and perfect red carpet fashion.

Westlife to play at Logies (Austalia)

Westlife are looking forward to singing in front of their favourite Aussie television stars when they perform at the Logies this weekend. They will perform their new single, Something Right, on Australian television's night of nights on Sunday. A couple of weeks ago their former bandmate, Brian McFadden, drew a blank when the awards were mentioned, but Westlife have made sure they know what the Logies actually are.

"We do now," Egan said. "We know they're a big TV awards show," added Filan. "We didn't know how big they were, but obviously getting to perform at them is a big thing and we're very happy with that." The guys are big fans of some of Australia's most popular television exports, such as Neighbours and Kath & Kim. "We watch Kath & Kim," the band said in unison. "I love Kath & Kim, and I used to be a massive fan of Home and Away," Feehily said.

Byrne added: "If you think about it, Australians produce some great television. You've got Skippy over the years, Home and Away and Neighbours..." Westlife's Logies performance will be the last time Aussie fans see the group for a while. The band plan to take some time off after celebrating their 10-year anniversary in July. Filan said the group find it hard to believe it has been a decade since they formed. "It feels pretty weird to be honest," he said. "But I think we feel very proud of the band, and very satisfied with the last 10 years."

Westlife has sold 40 million records and racked up 14 UK No 1 singles in the decade. Egan said a lot had changed along the way. "We take it a lot more seriously now than we did when we were younger," he said. "I don't think we even realised what we were doing when we were younger. "We didn't start taking it seriously until about six years in."

After celebrating the milestone, the guys will take the best part of a year off to reflect and recharge the batteries. "It's all about `me time' for each of us," Filan said. "I think we need to reassess everything," Byrne expanded. "To make it work, we need to know what it's all about again, and I don't think we do anymore. "I think we're just on that treadmill that doesn't stop." The band are quick to reassure fans they are not planning on breaking up. On the contrary, they want to make Westlife better. "In a way, maybe we've let the music slide a little bit, because it was so quick and happy," Filan explained. "We need to find better music again."

Westlife monthly news archives