Westlife are about to set off on a huge world tour to mark their 25th anniversary celebrations
20:27, 09 May 2026Updated 20:44, 09 May 2026
Westlife’s huge 25th anniversary tour kicks off this year(Image: Luke Taylor/SplashNews.com)
Westlife spoke out about absent bandmember Mark Feehily ahead of their appearance on Britain’s Got Talent.
Mark has not performed with the band since 2024 following a series of serious health complications. While he won’t join the boys on their huge 25th anniversary tour that starts this year, the 45-year-old has lent his vocals to their newest singles Chariot and Your Love Amazes Me.
Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Shane Filan have vowed to continue the celebrations without him, but admit his presence is still missed by them and their fans.
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.”
Mark has battled a series of serious health complications in the last six years(Image: Instagram)
The band also sent a heartfelt tribute to Mark when they played two nights at the Royal Albert Hall last year.
Shane told the crowd: “I want to take a little moment now to speak about Mark who is unfortunately not with us tonight. But we love him, we miss him and we cannot wait to have him back on this stage with us. The good news is he’s obviously on the new music which you’ve heard already. And the next album obviously as well.”
He continued: “This next song I want to dedicate it to Mark because it’s his favourite song. That might give you a hint. It’s a beautiful song. It’s probably the song that changed our whole career, so we want to hear you sing it with us tonight. This ladies and gentleman is Flying Without Wings.”
The band then invited a female vocalist from their choir to join them centre stage to sing Mark’s famous lines.
Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan perform in Mexico after Mark sadly had to pull out of their dates(Image: Getty Images)
Former Masked Singer star Mark has suffered a number of health setbacks in recent years. He was forced to withdraw from the band’s 2022 The Wild Dreams tour when he developed pneumonia. He previously contracted severe sepsis in August 2020, which led to ongoing health challenges and required him to step back from touring with Westlife to recover.
In 2024 Mark announced he would not be performing in the band’s first tour of America after undergoing hernia surgery.
In his last message to fans, he shared: “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.
Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Markus Feehily and Shane Filan of Westlife Perform at Wembley Stadium in August 2022
“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.
‘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.’
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 note: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.”