Westlife: Now we are four

What's NEW! Westlife dust themselves down ans sparkle at first gig without Bryan

Irish superstars Westlife seem to be coping fine after Bryan McFaddens schock xit from the band. These pictures, taken last week at the first gig on their tour as a foursome, show the boys happily soldiering on without their fifth member.

Kicking off their Turn around world tour in Belfast, the quartet wowed the crowd with their mobster-style suits and biggest hits. But despite their smiles, the boys admitted that it felt a bit odd without Bryan. Mark Feehily said, "It felt strange when I looked around and there were only 3 others instead of four. but Bryan was on stage with us in spirit."

Nicky Byrne seemed very determined that the band should move on, saying, "As far as Westlife are concerned Bryan's dead and gone." He also revealed that all of them treid to persuade Bryan to stay - but to no avail. Nicky said, "When he first btold us, it was like a knife through the heart and I'll never be able to explain that feeling. I spent so much time trying to talk him round, you wouldn't believe, but there was no way any of us could change his mind."

During the show, the boys thanked their manager, families and fans but didn't mention Bryan. "If we keep mentioning him," Nicky said, "it will make our fans think we aren't moving on." However, Nicky does admit he has one eye on the future: "I'd love to go into acting. I want to give Hollywood a serious pop and work my way up the ladder."

Bryan might not have been with Wetslife the last week but his wife Kerry was hanging out with Westlife Wives. We spotted the jungle queen promoting a fashion event at Dublinn's ICE bar, alongside Nicky's wife Georgina and Shane Filan's wife Gillian.

And is Hollyoaks honey Jodi Albert about to join them? Rumours that she and Kian Egan are thinking about setting down emerged last week when he revealed he'd persuaded her not to renew her acting contract. "I want her to leave," he said, "I don't want her to get typecast."

Westlife are touring in the UK until August. Tickets are still available, for more information go to www.westlife.com