EXCLUSIVE
Nicky Byrne Talks To Daily Mirror - November
2006
ON
BECOMING A DAD: 'I know the time is right .. I've seen
the joy it brought Shane and I know my
By
Paul Martin
WESTLIFE
star Nicky Byrne has revealed his joy as he prepares to become a pop
papa.
The
singer's wife
Thrilled
Nicky said: "I know the time is right for this and it's something that
"It's
a whole different level of responsibility bringing a child into the
world.
"But
I've seen what joy it brought Brian McFadden when he was in the group and more
recently Shane Filan with his daughter Nicole. I want to experience that too and
I know
Nicky
met the Daily Mirror in a plush suite in
Despite
having staged a day of interviews and promotions the 28-year-old is energetic
and bright, wearing a pair of designer jeans and a smart
jumper.
He's
been working frantically since dawn but even at 6pm he still has plenty of his
charm in reserve, flashing his trademark boy band smile as he leaps up and
offers to make tea.
The
singer's soon reflecting on Westlife's amazing
resurrection since Brian's dramatic exit from the group three years
ago.
He
explains: "I don't think that Brian would ever ask to come back to the band. But
the honest answer would be that we wouldn't have him back in the group
anyway.
"We
all get on great with Brian but we couldn't go back to having five in the group
because it was such an upheaval when he left.
"We
had to re-build and start from scratch and we're a different group now. We've
moved on and Brian knows that as much as we do.
"If
you are asking me if we would let him re-join the group then the answer is
no."
He
concedes: "At the time I suppose we did all feel a bit hurt and abandoned by the
whole Brian thing because we were emotional about what was
happening.
"We
were taking a huge step into the unknown when Brian left. I think we all felt a
bit vulnerable and scared. That was probably the toughest thing we ever went
through as a band but it brought us closer together.
"I
think a lot of people wrote us off and thought we would be finished - like when
Robbie Williams left Take That."
Far
from folding, the stars bounced back within six months with a No1 album and
sell-out world tour.
Yet
Nicky knows how unpredictable the fickle world of showbiz can be. He cautiously
accepts: "We have to be strong now because another member leaving the group
would be the end. We know that, yet we also know it won't
happen.
YES
of course sometimes we'll have a really heated discussion, debate or even row
about what song to release or where we want to tour.
"These
things are important to us and we all have different ideas on what is
right.
"But
we argue it out and then reach a decision. It's a democracy and it works well
for us."
He
adds with a grin: "And none of us have ever hit each other - that's not bad for
a group of lads who have been on the road together for eight
years."
Meanwhile,
all bets are on when it comes to what Nicky and
Boylesports
were offering odds yesterday on what Bertie's first
grandchild will be called.
Nicky
is the favourite choice for a boy at 16/1 followed
closely by Bertie, after his famous grandfather at 20/1.
If
it's a girl, Cecelia at 25/1, the name of
As
a tribute to the Taoiseach's other colleagues, Justice
Minister Michael McDowell and Finance Minister Brian Cowen, Michael is at 25/1
and Brian is 33/1.
If
it's a bouncing little girl,
Nicky
may look to some of his own songs for inspiration when naming his first
born.
The
band had a hit with Mandy and Boylesports are offering
odds of 66/1 that it comes out tops for the new parents.
At
150/1, Gertie is the rank outsider for Westlife's new arrival followed by odds of 40/1 that it will
be twins and 300/1 that
Credit/Source:
www.mirror.co.uk