Westlife appeared on Britain's Got Talent on Saturday night, delivering a medley of their greatest hits ahead of their 25th anniversary tour. The band, comprising Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan, performed without bandmate Mark Feehily, who is also absent from the upcoming tour due to health issues.
During their performance, the trio paid a heartfelt tribute to Simon Cowell, the music mogul who played a pivotal role in their career. Nicky Byrne recalled: 'It's been a long time since Simon Cowell suggested standing up from our stools on a key change.' Kian Egan added that they wouldn't be where they are today without Simon.
Mark Feehily's absence was not mentioned on stage, but the band previously confirmed in June that he would not join the anniversary tour. In a statement, they said: 'Sadly, Mark will be unable to join the celebrations. We hope he can join us back on stage when he is ready and able.'
Feehily had announced a break from Westlife in 2024, just before their first ever US tour, citing serious health challenges. He revealed that he had developed sepsis after surgery in 2020, requiring emergency treatment and a lengthy hospital stay. He also suffered from pneumonia in 2021, forcing him to miss concerts.
Kian Egan expressed the band's disappointment: 'We’re devastated he won’t be joining us on this tour. We’ll be missing him every night just as much as the fans will. But he’s given us his full support.'
