By SIMON ROTHSTEIN
SHOCK, horror, after 13 No1 singles Westlife have admitted they're sick of many of their most famous songs.
In an exclusive webchat Nicky, Shane, Kian and Mark answered YOUR questions - giving their candid views on everything from Take That's recent reunion to The Crazy Frog's private parts.
Nicky revealed that he's hoping to follow Shane by becoming a dad, Mark told how easy it was for him to come out as gay and the lads agreed that ex-member Brian will never rejoin them.
And, in the biggest surprise of all, Westlife admitted that their bosses and bickering X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell are actually close friends away from the TV cameras.
Hi guys, I'm a huge fan. What are your favourite tracks on your new album Face To Face? Amelia, Malaysia
Nicky - It's weird when you make an album, as your favourite song will change every time you listen to it. Right now Colour My World is the one I like best, as we've not actually performed it anywhere. And people are loving You Raise Me Up, so that's a favourite too.
Shane - I have to agree about You Raise Me Up - it's a song that I'm not sick of yet, which is a good sign.
Kian - We sing our songs so much, it's very difficult for us not to get sick of them.
Mark - The only songs that we perform at every gig and still love are Flying Without Wings and World Of Our Own.
I love your new single When You Tell Me That You Love Me featuring Diana Ross. For the video, was she actually present or were you both recorded at different times? Ian Day, Northampton and Patricia, Lincolnshire
Shane - Everyone asks that but, believe it or not, she was there.
Mark - That video is so heavily lit and edited it looks like she's been superimposed. When we recorded the song, Diana did her bits in LA and we did ours in London. But for the video she was definitely there. I promise!
Shane - People say Diana's this mad diva - but she was very normal and chatty. We expected her to turn up at the end and pose for a few shots, but she actually arrived at 8.30 in the morning to watch our first rehearsals and stayed all day.
Nicky - For our next duet I'd love to do something with Madonna.
Shane - A whole duets album is also something we want to do in the future, as well as a Christmas album.
If Brian asked to come back would you let him? Michelle
Nicky - We've always said never say never - but we wouldn't want Brian back and Brian wouldn't want to be back. We're a different band without him and Face To Face is set to be our biggest album ever, without him on it. You have to look at the reasons why Brian left. He was obviously severely unhappy to make such a decision. I've never got to the real root of his problem. So no, I don't think Brian will ever come back.
I watched the Take That documentary and those guys got up to some real naughties. Is that what being in Westlife is like? Diane, Leeds
Nicky - What you saw in the Take That documentary is almost identical to what it's like being in any big boy band.
Kian - They were a bit madder than us though!
Nicky - And obviously we're all in very committed relationships whereas they weren't. People think it's hard being on the road but we get a lot of time off in Westlife and because we've made good money we can fly our loved ones over to be with us when we're touring abroad.
What do you think of Take That getting back together? Sal, Durham
Shane - Before we were in Westlife we used to watch Take That's videos and really look up to them. I still think Gary Barlow is one of the best singer/songwriters in the world and they were mentors for us.
Nicky - We think it's great that Take That are doing a tour but, for their own sakes, I hope they don't record a new album. The public love nostalgia, but they shouldn't try and go beyond that. Maradona was a great footballer - but he's not going to be great today!
What do you think of Howard saying: "We're going to give a very entertaining and energetic show. We're not going to be sat on chairs like certain groups nowadays." Do you think he was talking about you? Dan Tabbrett, Romford
Nicky - I hope he wasn't though, because there are plenty of things that could be said back towards Take That! And as far as I know Howard Donald has never been to a Westlife show.
What do you think of Louis and Simon on the X Factor? Is the tension between them actually real? Patricia, Lincolnshire
Mark - They are very good friends! The judges do get annoyed with each other and at one point Louis was leaving the show, but deep down Simon and Louis and very close.
Nicky - It's funny because we've been mentioned on X Factor quite a lot and The Conway Sisters even sang You Raise Me Up. I don't think Simon and Louis set out to do it on purpose, but it's definitely helped us.
Does it bother you that the X Factor winner, possibly managed by Simon or Louis, will be going up against you in the race for Christmas No1? Lisa Hill, Sunderland
Mark - No, it doesn't really matter because at Christmas you're up against cartoons, people made of putty and JCBs! So I think the X Factor is actually quite a normal thing to be competing with. And being realistic, the show's winner will definitely be this year's Christmas No1.
What do you think of Chico being banned from releasing a Christmas single? Dave
Kian - Before the show started everyone signed a contract saying they weren't allowed to release a song before the winner. I think that makes sense, as the victor should leave the show with the best opportunity at a music career. X Factor is so big that if Chico was to release a single it would more than likely be No1 - and that could rob the winner of their chance to get out there and do it themselves.
After your defeat at the hands of Bob The Builder at Christmas 2000, are you worried about The Crazy Frog beating you this year? Carly, Leeds
Nicky - I don't mind getting beat by The Crazy Frog because he's got a small willy - he has his own problems!
Shane - Losing to Bob The Builder was quite devastating actually, because we were aiming for an unbroken run of 10 No1 singles and he stopped that. But we've learnt that at Christmas, you've just got to laugh and hope for the best!
How will you be spending this Christmas? Will you each be with your own families or will there be a Westlife get together? Sarah Jane Chubb, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport
Mark - We will be with our families - we've never had a big Westlife Christmas.
Shane - We see so much of each other, that is the one day of the year we definitely spend with our loved ones.
Nicky - Don't tell Louis though - he'll want us to have a meeting on Christmas Day!
Shane, how are you finding being a dad to Nicole? Danielle, Stoke On Trent
Shane - It's been amazing and Nicole is beautiful. Except for two 10 day trips to South Africa, I've practically seen her every day since she was born on July 23. Nicole has started giggling and laughing. Last night I was tickling her and she couldn't stop laughing for about 10 minutes. It was brilliant. I don't play Westlife to her, but I do sing Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely. She loves that song - I've even made it my ringtone.
Nicky, when are you and Georgina going to have a baby like Shane? Amy, Hong Kong
Nicky - I'm not sure, but seeing how happy Shane is definitely makes me want to be a dad. When Brian had Molly I felt that we were too young to really appreciate what having a child was like. I thought Molly was the cutest thing in the world, but it was always nice to give her back. But with Nicole, we're three or four years older and I'm married, which has made me very broody!
Hi Mark - You must be happy with the overwhelming support you've received since coming out as gay? Was it hard decision to make? Kate, Derby
Mark - It's not something that I found difficult at all. When you get to the point of feeling OK about doing it, it's just a case of finding a few minutes to actually say the words. Getting to that place was hard, but once I got there I had absolutely no problem. And once you come out, it makes your life a lot better and easier.
Shane - I think we all knew Mark was gay, but it was up to him to tell us himself. We travel so much together that we're like family. I know more about the boys individually and personally than I do my own brothers.
Mark - And I never bluffed them or said: "I was out with this girl last night." By the time I said it I was just confirming what they already knew.
Being gay myself, I can totally relate to Mark's decision to come out. I'd like to ask Mark if there are marriage bells in the distance now the Civil Partnerships Act has been introduced? If not, I'm a nice Scottish lad and available! Brian, Dundee
Mark - I have no plans to get married but I think the Act is fantastic. I don't see any reason why people in same-sex relationships can't celebrate and make a statement of their love. I don't know the full details of the new law, but I do know it's better in terms of things like inheritance - and again there's no reason why a gay couple shouldn't have exactly the same rights as a straight couple. And it's nice to know that if I ever do get to the point of wanting to get married then I can do it in this country.
Can you ever envisage the day when Westlife split up or will you keep going until you take Elvis's record of 21 No1 singles? Becky, Bristol
Shane - We'd like to have the most No1s, but I don't think we'll ever beat Elvis.
Mark - And we're very happy with our 13 No1s so far, which is better than Take That and Boyzone.
Kian - You've got to take things year by year, especially being the type of band we are. We'd love to go on for as long as possible and we will, as long as people are still enjoying what we're doing and we're still enjoying it.
article © Sun Online 2005