Westlife reunion: Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden's 'raw and honest' chat 20 years after shock exit

Westlife star Nicky Byrne is launching a brand-new podcast, Nicky Byrne HQ, where he will sit down with top celebrities and public figures, and his first guest is former bandmate Brian McFadden

Former Westlife bandmates Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden are set to publicly reunite for the first time in over two decades - and Bryan has "a lot to say!"

Brian, who sensationally quit Westlife back in 2004, will be the first guest on Nicky's upcoming podcast series, Nicky Byrne HQ. In what promises to be a blockbuster inaugural episode, Nicky and Brian have a heart-to-heart on his dramatic exit from the band and unravel a piece of pop history.

Future episodes of Nicky Byrne HQ will see dad-of-three Nicky, 45, chat with a host of other stars and notable figures from the entertainment industry about their personal trials, triumphs, and the events that have defined them. But first up, is Brian!

"Nicky Byrne HQ is something I've wanted to do for a while," Nicky explained ahead his new venture premiering. "I've had the privilege of meeting and working with so many incredible people over the years, and I think it's time to share their stories in a way that's raw, honest, and hopefully inspiring. I couldn't think of a better first guest than Bryan, he had a lot to say! And, I'm looking forward to having some great conversations with many more people down the line."

Brian and Nicky, alongside bandmates Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan, burst onto the music scene in the late 90s and quickly became an iconic boyband. Born in 1998 as Ireland's own version of Take That, the group - managed by music mogul Louis Walsh - racked up a whopping 11 UK No.1 singe by 2002.

But just two years later, in March 2004, Brian announced he had left the band - just three weeks before the Irish pop legends embarked on their fourth world tour. Brian, who was married to Kerry Katona at the time, said his decision was down to wanting to spend more time with his family.

"I needed to just stop," Brian recalled as he discussed his shock exit earlier this year. "I remember the day. I remember going, 'Oh, no.' We had just worked flat-out for like 300 days straight, finished the tour, blah blah blah, and we were in a recording studio in London. Our tour manager came out with an A4 sheet of what we were up to for the next few months.

He continued: "I looked at it. I was looking for a day off and I went through it. I went down through another month. My stomach just sank. I thought: 'No. I can't.' It would be like playing a football match for 90 minutes and someone saying: 'OK, lads, we're going out for another 90'."

Boasting an illustrious career with Westlife, new podcast host Nicky has seen astronomical success, selling over 55 million records globally, snagging 14 UK number-one hits, and clinching coveted BRIT Awards alongside other accolades. Before his music career, Nicky Byrne kicked off his professional journey as a footballer with Leeds Utd in 1995, even bagging the FA youth cup in 1997.

In addition to his sporting and musical achievements, he's also had a successful stint in broadcasting. He was the voice behind a weekday show on RTE 2FM, one of Ireland's top radio stations, from 2014 to 2019 and also hosted the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars on RTE One for five seasons.

Nicky Byrne HQ is set to be an engaging podcast series that promises both entertainment and insightful conversations with some of the world's most intriguing personalities. Big names lined up include musician Gary Barlow, Westlife manager Louis Walsh and former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

Thanks to Nicky's personal connection and broadcasting experience with many of his guests, listeners can look forward to candid and heartfelt discussions that delve deeper than the headlines. Fans can catch the first episode of Nicky Byrne HQ featuring Bryan McFadden, available on all major streaming platforms from 10 October.

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