Louis Walsh Talks Westlife Reunion, And Why Brian McFadden Won't Be Back

'I prefer a happy band.'

Westlife manager Louis Walsh has confirmed the boyband will be reuniting in the new year, without one of its original members.

Brian McFadden (aka. The Artist Formerly Known As Bryan McFadden) will not be involved in the reunion tour, despite having expressed an interest in reforming with his former bandmates as recently as last year.

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Arguably the most 90s photo to ever exist - Brian and his former bandmates back in 1999
Brian Rasic via Getty Images

He added that there was no room for changing his mind where Brian is concerned, insisting: “I prefer a happy band and four happy people.”

Brian quit Westlife during the group’s heyday in 2004, and while many groups struggle to find their feet again after losing a key member, the Irish boyband went on to release a further six albums as a four-piece, all of which made at least the top three in the UK.

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Louis looking his usual happy self with the Westlife boys in 2006
Brian Rasic via Getty Images

Westlife announced their split in October 2011, which preceded the release of a final Greatest Hits collection (remember those?) and one last tour.

Despite being something of a joke in the pop music scene, Westlife racked up a staggering 14 number one singles during their 14 years together, including an impressive run of seven chart-topping singles in a row, beginning with their debut ‘Swear It Again’.

Since their split, band members Shane Filan and Mark Feehily have made attempts at solo careers with varying levels of success.

Kian Egan was crowned King Of The Jungle following his stint in ‘I’m A Celebrity’ back in 2013, and has since gone on to appear as a coach on the Irish version of ‘The Voice’, which he did for the show’s entire five-series run.

Meanwhile, Nicky Byrne competed in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in 2012, and was announced as the host of the Irish equivalent, ‘Dancing With The Stars’, which aired for the first time earlier this year.

Where Are The Stars Of 'Popstars' Now?
Myleene Klass(01 of14)
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Since Hear'Say went their separate ways, Myleene has managed to maintain her media presence, and added a lot of new strings to her bow. She's released a host of instrumental albums, a fashion range with Littlewoods and given presenting a go.

She's also a tabloid staple thanks to her personal life (which includes one infamous incident at her daughter's school last year) and makes occasional appearances airing her views on TV shows, from ITV's political debates to 'Loose Women'.
(credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Suzanne Shaw(02 of14)
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Another member of the group to have carved a new career for herself is Suzanne Shaw, who is now best known as an actress, having played Eve Birch in 'Emmerdale'.

Off the back of her victory on 'Dancing On Ice', she's also enjoyed several musical theatre roles, including in 'Chicago' and 'White Christmas'.
(credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
Noel Sullivan(03 of14)
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And speaking of theatre, former Hear'Say star Noel Sullivan is still pursuing his singing, with a host of leading musical roles to his name, including 'Grease', 'We Will Rock You' and his current stint in the UK tour of 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels'. (credit:Tristan Fewings via Getty Images)
Kym Marsh(04 of14)
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Jumping ship from Hear'Say early on, Kym attempted a short-lived solo career, before landing her current role as Michelle Connor in 'Coronation Street', where she has been for the past 10 years. (credit:Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
Danny Foster(05 of14)
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Danny's music career pretty much ended after Hear'Say, but he has since made a string of reality TV appearances, including 'The Games', 'Trust Me, I'm A Beauty Therapist' and 'Dancing On Ice'.

More recently, he auditioned for the second series of 'The Voice UK', with an R&B inspired version of 'Wannabe' by the Spice Girls, though he failed to impress the judges.
(credit:ITV/Shutterstock)
Nigel Lythgoe(06 of14)
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After opening the door for a certain Mr Cowell to enter the nation's living rooms, Nasty Nigel eventually made the jump across the pond, and has judged the US series 'So You Think You Can Dance' since its launch in 2005.

He also served as a producer on 'American Idol' and the short-lived 'Superstars Of Dance'.
(credit:Jason LaVeris via Getty Images)
Nicki Chapman(07 of14)
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Former PR whizz Nicki Champman made her break into television on 'Popstars', and was later the only judge to return to the panel for follow-up series 'Pop Idol', where she stayed for two series.

Nowadays, she's best known for her presenting, fronting 'Escape To The Country' and occasional segments on 'This Morning'.
(credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Paul Adam(08 of14)
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Paul was one of the three judges who whittled multitudes of hopefuls down to just five in 'Popstars', and still works in the music industry, currently working in A&R at Global Entertainment.

Sadly, he also doesn't appear to have had his photograph taken since 2001, so here he is with his fellow judges back in the day.
(credit:ITV)
Michelle Heaton(09 of14)
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Michelle didn't make it into Hear'Say, but she and the four other singers who failed to make the cut later formed Liberty X, who mad more chart success than the show's actual winners.

Of the five members of Liberty X, Michelle has the biggest public profile today, having appeared in reality shows like 'Celebrity Big Brother' and 'Totally Scott-Lee'.
(credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Tony Lundon(10 of14)
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Ireland-born Tony has moved behind the scenes since the heyday of Liberty X, studying film in New York for two years, before returning to the UK to set up his own production company, The Cell Productions. (credit:Ken McKay/ITV)
Kevin Simm(11 of14)
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Not giving up on his dreams of stardom, Kevin is one of the stand-out performers on the 2016 series of 'The Voice', where he was mentored by Paloma Faith.

In 2008, he released his first and only solo album, 'Brand New', exclusively in Japan.
(credit:Ken McKay/ITV)
Kelli Young(12 of14)
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Kelli's media profile simmered down when Liberty X split in 2007, safe for a small performance of 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' as a solo performer on 'Britain Sings Christmas'.

She revealed shortly after the group's split that she and bandmate Jessica had formed a pop duo, though their material never surfaced. She did, however, take part in the group's reunion as part of 'The Big Reunion' in 2013.
(credit:Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock)
Jessica Taylor(13 of14)
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Jessica is one of few stars to have appeared on both 'Strictly Come Dancing' and 'Dancing On Ice', making it to the final of both talent shows, finishing in second and third place respectively.

Following the band's split, she married cricketer Kevin Pietersen, with whom she has a young son.
(credit:Ken McKay/ITV)
Darius Campbell(14 of14)
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One of the show's biggest success stories was also among the most truly surprising.

When Darius stunned the nation with his *ahem* unique take on Britney Spears' 'Baby One More Time', he briefly became a national laughing stock - but what no one could predict would be that less than a year later he'd ditch the ponytail and beard for a stint on 'Pop Idol'.

There, he enjoyed far better success, making it through to the live finals, and now regularly appears in the West End, where he's currently appearing in 'Funny Girl' with Sheridan Smith.
(credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)