In a surprising revelation that has delighted fans of 90s pop, singer Louise Redknapp has disclosed that she once shared a flat with Boyzone star Ronan Keating at the height of their fame.
A New Year's Reunion Decades in the Making
The 51-year-old former Eternal star reunited with Keating, 48, this week to film his upcoming BBC One show, Ronan & Friends: A New Year's Eve Party. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Louise expressed her excitement, marking the occasion as the first time the two will perform together professionally, despite a friendship spanning over three decades.
"I'm excited to be joining my old flat mate @ronankeating to see in the new year!" she wrote. "I can’t believe that after knowing each other for over 30 years we’ve never actually performed together until now… and we have something special planned for you all!"
She encouraged fans to tune into the special, which airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 31st December.
Flashback to the Pop Heyday
To underscore their long history, Louise shared a nostalgic front page from Top Of The Pops magazine dated 1996, featuring the pair posing playfully in boxing outfits. The image served as a potent reminder of their shared era in the mid-90s pop scene.
Fans were quick to respond with enthusiasm online, with comments like "Brilliant! I'll definitely be watching" and "Can't wait!".
In a past interview with The Sun, Redknapp opened up about her experience living with Keating and fellow Boyzone member Shane Lynch. "It was a great experience, I had the time of my life," she recalled. While she noted the lack of a personal life was a downside of 90s pop stardom, she fondly remembered the "b****y brilliant" music scene, touring with acts like Take That, East 17, and Boyzone.
Reflections on Life in Eternal
The news comes as Louise has recently been candid about her more complex feelings during her time in the R&B girl group Eternal, which she formed with Kéllé Bryan and sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett in 1992. Despite the group's success, she has described feeling "miserable" and "lonely."
She left the band in 1995 to pursue a solo career, a decision she now views as strong. "I knew I was really sad. I was in my early twenties, and you shouldn't be sad at that stage in your life," she told The Independent earlier this year, rejecting a label that once called her "the Beyoncé" of the group.
She revealed a bond with Robbie Williams during a tour, as they both felt like "the odd ones out" in their respective bands. "It wasn't part of the plan," she said of her departure. "We were just quite different characters."
Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party will also feature Boyzone's Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch joining Ronan on stage, promising a night of major 90s nostalgia for BBC viewers.
