Westlife performed on Britain’s Got Talent but following an emotional tribute their appearance left viewers slightly baffled.
Westlife performed on Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night (Image: ITV)
Westlife paid a touching tribute to Simon Cowell during an appearance on Britain’s Got Talent. The band — comprising Shane Filan, Nicky Bryne and Kian Egan — performed their biggest hits ahead of their 25th anniversary tour. However, they took to the stage without bandmate Mark Feehily, who will also be absent from the upcoming tour.
No specific reference was made to Mark, yet the trio offered a heartfelt tribute to judge Simon, who played a pivotal role in their rise to fame.
“It’s been a long time since Simon Cowell suggested standing up from our stools on a key change,” Nicky said. Kian went on to pay tribute to Simon and said they wouldn’t have been there without him.
It was confirmed in June that Mark would be missing from the tour. 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.”
BGT viewers were left distracted by Westlife (Image: ITV)
But viewers were left distracted after only three of them appeared on stage.
One X viewer wrote: “That’s not westlife there is only 3 of them. #BGT. “Another commented: “@BGT can’t beat @westlifemusic miss @MarkusFeehily. My favorite band by far that just made my night. Well done boys.”
A third added: “#bgt my god only three left in Westlife.”
A fourth penned: “Where’s Mark?”
Mark announced he would be stepping back from Westlife just days before the group’s first ever tour of America in 2024. At the time, 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.
Mark Feehily was a member of Westlife (Image: Getty)
“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 AandE. 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 went on to describe spending months in hospital during lockdown, before being told further surgery was necessary.
“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 AandE, 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,” he said.
Addressing Mark’s absence from their landmark anniversary tour, Kian told us: “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.”
