Westlife’s Mark Feehily has stepped back from the band’s world tour due to his health challenges
Westlife have addressed Mark Feehily’s absence(Image: PA)
Westlife have made it clear that Mark Feehily remains “very much a part of the band” despite his absence from their tour.
The Irish pop group – consisting of Mark, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan – are marking their 25th anniversary with a series of concerts to commemorate the milestone. However, last year their bandmate Mark withdrew from touring due to “health challenges”. He contracted sepsis in 2020 following surgery, before receiving a pneumonia diagnosis a year later.
Earlier this year it was confirmed that he would miss the band‘s anniversary world tour, reports Wales Online.
However, Nicky, Shane and Kian, who launched their 25th celebrations this week with a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, have emphasised that Mark remains part of Westlife and that they “can’t wait to have him back”.
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Speaking about his absence on The One Show on Wednesday (October 29), Shane said: “Oh, he’s very much a part of the band. Unfortunately, he’s unable to join us for the tour, but, you know, he’s… look, we love Mark to bits.”
“We can’t wait to have him back,” he continued.
Shane said Westlife can’t wait to have Mark back
“It’s going to be, obviously, this tour is going to be the three of us, but we’re very much looking forward to it.”
“And he is on the new music as well,” his bandmate Kian added.
Last year, Mark shared a long statement on Instagram providing fans with an update on his health issues. He revealed that after having an operation, he developed sepsis and went on to spend several months in hospital.
Mark has suffered health issues(Image: ITV)
Then in 2021, he contracted pneumonia, and the subsequent year he required additional surgery. Following this, the “physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much” for him.
With “regret”, he announced his decision to “temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring”, explaining to his fans that he needed to “make the right decision for my health and wellbeing, for my family, and for myself as a person”.
The One Show airs at 7pm on BBC One on weekdays.