Shane Filan, Nicky Bryne and Kian Egan perform on Britain’s Got Talent, but bandmate Mark Feehily is absent from their 25th anniversary tour
15:04, 27 Oct 2025Updated 19:57, 09 May 2026
Westlife’s Mark Feehily can be heard on their new tracks as they celebrate their 25th anniversary(Image: ITV)
Westlife are back on Britain’s Got Talent, but without the presence of bandmate Mark Feehily.
The Irish band are celebrating 25 years together with the release of a brand new single, greatest hits album and a huge world tour.
While Shane Filan, Nicky Bryne and Kian Egan will be flying the flag for the hugely successful group, it’s been confirmed Mark Feehily will be unable to perform live with them.
It comes after a number of health setbacks the 45-year-old has faced in recent years – that began with a sepsis diagnosis in 2020. It was the start of an agonising few years for the star who has battled pneumonia, an incisional hernia and undergone several major operations.
While Mark might not be singing live with his bandmates, fans of the vocal powerhouse will be thrilled to know he will be part of the celebrations in voice. Mark’s distinct vocals can be heard on the band’s newest track, Your Love Amazes Me and on previous hit Chariot.
In June, Mark’s absence from the coming shows was announced as part of a length to announce their anniversary plans. The band said in a statement: “Sadly, Mark will be unable to join the celebrations. We hope he can join us back on stage when he is ready and able. He sends his love and positivity to you all as always.”
Westlife on the red carpet at the Daily Mirror 2025 Pride of Britain Awards(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
Mark’s illness in his own words
Mark announced a temporary departure from Westlife just days before first ever tour of America in 2024.
Taking to Instagram at the time, he wrote: ‘Hello and much love to you all! It’s Mark here.. Most of you are aware that I have had some health challenges over the past while.
‘It actually all started 3.5 years ago in August 2020 when I had surgery. Within a few days of this surgery I was in severe pain and was rushed into A&E.
‘I eventually ended that awful day in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where I was informed that due to a complication with the surgery, I had developed severe ‘Sepsis’, a life-threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life.’
He added: ‘I spent the next few months in hospital. It was during lockdown. For months, due to strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiance and my then 10-month-old daughter.
‘It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU.
‘In late 2021, I became very ill in Newcastle before a concert and ended up back in A&E, this time being told I had pneumonia. I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December.
Westlife (L-R) Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan and Nicky Bryne(Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
‘I was referred to a consultant who told me I needed more surgery which I went ahead with in May 2022 meaning I was forced to miss more of The Wild Dreams tour.
‘Three months after that surgery, I tried my best to soldier on for you guys and to go back on tour but unfortunately the physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much for me.
‘I developed a very large ‘incisional hernia’ and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it. This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option.’
‘I developed a very large ‘incisional hernia’ and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it. This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option.’
Confirming his temporary hiatus from the band, he added: ‘It is with the upmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring until a time ote: that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual.
‘Believe me, I wish things could be different! I would like to thank you so very much for your support and understanding of me and my health over the past few years.
Markus Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan of Westlife Perform at Wembley Stadium in August 2022(Image: 2022 Joseph Okpako)
The band’s response
Despite the vocal powerhouse’s absence on the road, the remaining trio say Mark has given them his full support.
In an interview with Irish outlet RTE News, Shane delighted fans by giving an update on Mark, saying: ‘He’s unable to join the tour unfortunately as he’s mentioned already but being on the new song is very important. He’s still a member of this band obviously and he’s sounding great on the new songs.”
Speaking to the Mirror, Kian said: “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. This is the 25th anniversary, it’s something that we all felt needed to be celebrated. We hope as soon as he’s ready he’ll be back with us and we look forward to that moment.”
