The big Westlife interview: Who Simon didn't like, who was the golden boy, would Brian come back, who Louis says were the 'guinea pigs'

"Barry Egan speaks to Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, and longtime manager, Louis Walsh"

"Interviewing Westlife proves to be an entertainingly complicated affair, taking months to organise, but finally coming together very quickly."

"Last week, I met Nicky Byrne in the Grand Hotel in Malahide; a few days later I was sitting across from Kian Egan in a suite in Dublin's InterContinental; on Monday it was Shane Filan's turn at his house in Sligo; and before that I met Louis Walsh in the InterContinental."

Members of Westlife and their longtime manager, Louis Walsh, participated in separate, coordinated interviews scheduled over several days. The interview process required months of organisation before the meetings could be arranged. The sessions were completed quickly once scheduling aligned. Nicky Byrne was met at the Grand Hotel in Malahide. Kian Egan was met in a suite at Dublin's InterContinental. Shane Filan was met at his house in Sligo. Louis Walsh was met in the InterContinental. The series of encounters occurred in close succession, with each meeting held at a distinct location to accommodate individual availability.

Read at Independent