Westlife Split after 14 years

Following a phenomenally successful career that included 14 number one singles in as many years and 44 million albums sold, Westlife have decided to call it a day. A farewell tour is set for next year.

Reads a joint statement from the band:

“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.”

So where do they go next? Kian Egan is lined up for RTE's new talent show The Voice Of Ireland where he will mentor young talent alongside Bressie, Sharon Corr and Brian Kennedy while reports have emerged that FM104 have offered Nicky Byrne a job on their Strawberry Alarm Clock breakfast show.

“Down through the years, we at FM104 have had a very amicable relationship with Westlife and especially Nicky, seeing as he is a local lad,” said FM104 Programme Director Dave Kelly. “It’s unfortunate that Nicky will soon be out of a job, and given his obvious popularity with Dubliners, a move to work for us would be an ideal platform for him to pursue a new career. I have no intention of changing the line-up of the show’s hosts Jim-Jim and Nobby, but with Nicky on board with them, I genuinely believe we would be untouchable. I think DJ Nicky B has a nice ring to it.”