Hi Mark Here,

WE'RE heading into a nerve-racking week here in Westlife - with just FIVE DAYS left to the opening night of our very first world tour.

It kicks off at the northern English city of Newcastle next Friday and we're keeping our fingers crossed that everything will go well for us on the night.

We have spent a scary £2.5 MILLION on the production - I'm told that it's bigger than Boyzone and Take That and right up there with the kind of shows Michael Jackson staged years ago.

When I was a kid growing up in Sligo, I remember watching Michael Jackson on TV and going, "Wow!" His shows were always spectactular...out of this world. Little did I think that a few years down the road I'd be in a massive show just like that. It's really incredible just thinking about it. And scary.

It's scary for many reasons, not least being the fact that we've never done anything on this scale before. As well as the songs, there are lots of tricky dance moves to think about

DANCING

I must say, I never considered myself a dancer. Although I took part in lots of shows in Sligo, the dancing was quite tame. Nothing I've ever done before has come close to the dancing in this show.

When I first went into rehearsals in Dublin I didn't have a lot of confidence in my dancing starting off. But we worked with a fantastic choreographer called Priscilla and she encouraged me and pushed me to do the type of dancing I never thought possible.

Priscilla is the best in the business. She herself has danced on stage with superstars like Tina Turner. She created the dance moves for Dane Bowers when he performed on TV singing his latest single, Shut Up...And Forget About It. And she popped up recently on TV working with the people taking part in UTV's Popstars.

At the beginning of the dance rehearsals I used to say to Priscilla, 'I can't do that!" She'd give me an "I mean business" stare and say, "How do you know until you try? Just follow me."

At first I did feel kind of awkward, but then it all started to come together for me. I suddenly started coordinating all the moves and it felt great. We rehearsed in front of a massive mirror in the dance studio and I could see it all working. Now I could even take on Michael Jackson - well, maybe that's stretching it. But I'm enjoying every moment of it.

This week we barely got the chance to stick our heads up for air because it was non-stop rehearsals in the UK. It's the first time we saw our big stage production and our jaws dropped. The guys who created it did a fantastic job. It's really amazing.

Surprise

I don't want to give too much away in case it spoils the surprise. But there are lots of special effects. Visually it's going to really drive up the excitement levels.

We'll be rehearsing right up to Friday and I expect that on opening night there'll be lots of trips to the loo as the nerves will be flying. But once we get out on stage we'll be fine.

OUR next single, Uptown Girl, will be released on March 2. I'm still recoveirng from the excitement of working with supermodel Claudia Schiffer who stars in the video with us. There are days when it's just bnlliant being in Westlife. And the day I spent with Claudia was extra special.

WRITE to Westlife Column. P0 Box 1263, 18 Rathfarnham Road, Dublin

HI MARK, I love ya! Your voice is great. Hope to see you when you tour in Germay. The Lay My Love On You video is great. Congratulations to Bryan and Kerry on the great news about their baby. Also, I hope you win all the Brits Awards. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Don't let us German fans wait too long for a tour. We miss you all.
Carmen Yuen, Getmany.

WESTLIIFE, you are my best band. Bryan, I hope you have a great life with Kerry. My sister is going to your concert, but I'm not. I wish I was. Shane, Bryan, Nicky, Kian and Mark I think you are all really cute. I have your calendar in my bedroom. Lots of love and kisses.
Claire Heraghty, Fanad, Co Donegal.

WASSUPP! Westlife. I think Shane and Nicky are gorgeous. I got your video and CD for Chrimbo and your music is deadly. I can't wait to see you in March. Will you ever have dancers in your video? Hint! Hint!
Carrie Reilly, Rathcoole, Co Dublin.

I LOVE Westlife so much, especially Nicky. I have your album Coast To Coast and my favourite song is, You Make Me Feel. You all make me proud to be Irish. Congratulations on getting engaged and going to be a dad, Bryan.
Linda Walsh, Listowel, Co Kerry

FIRSTLY, I would like to thank you guys for being you. Secondly, congratulations Bryan on finding Kerry. I'm sure you will be a great dad. Thirdly, I give you credit for your albums Westlife and Coast To Coast. If anyone wants to find out what pure talent is, listen to these albums. All my love.
Michelle Flanagan, Loughrea, Co Galway

WESTLIFE, I'm one of your biggest fans. I love your music. Bryan, I'm really happy for you and Kerry.
Laura O'Callaghan, Co Cork.