Shane interview Woman Magazine

there's something special about dads and daughters isn't there says likeable westlife singer shane , 26. "daughters make you feel so protective. nicole's still only eight months old but sometimes i imagine her grown up and guys calling for her.And , if i'm honest , part of me isnt looking forward to that ". it doesn't take much to get shane talking about nicole, who's starting to get her own personality." she's getting cheeky" he says."she knows if your not looking at her and she'll start making little noises to attract your attention."she has blue eyes like her mother and light brown hair like mine.And she also has a dimple in her chin that she inherited from me". she doesn't by any chance have her father wrapped round her little finger , does she ? "oh she's definitely a daddy's girl" laughs shane. so are the couple hoping to have a brother or sister for nicole ? "oh yes "say's shane"but not for at least a year or two.Westlife has such a busy schedule and it would be harder with two.i'd like three,four,even five children eventually, but it's up to Gillian.she's the one who has to do the hard work. "i'm the youngest of seven and Gillian's one of four.i think you want to repeat happy experiences of family life , dont you ?" Gillian was Shane's childhood sweetheart, the cousin of westlife band member, Kian Egan."we met when we were 12 in Sligo, where we both grew up" says Shane. It's why, he thinks, that the fans have accepted Gillian. "they realise we're normal lads with private lives. i think the fans know that if we're happy on our personal lives, then we'll be happy to carry on with Westlife. if our privacy was invaded it would stop us wanting to work so hard as a band. "Gillians one hundred per cent suppportive.Fans like her, which means a lot to me.If she felt uncomfortable with them , then i would too". in july westlife will have been together for eight years, quite an achievement in the fickle world of pop. "our sevth album, face to face, has now sold a millionand a half copies in the uk alone , our biggest selling album ever". he shakes his head in mild wonder." i never dreamt it would take off like that.But then our single Raise me up, taken from that album, was also our most successful.We're hoping our current single,Amazing will repeat that success."people ask how we've managed to stay around for so long. i think that it's down to keeping busy and giving people what they want." which is what ?"power ballads.It's how we built our reputation and it's a style we've returned to after a few experiments, such as our ratpack album,along the way".The enduring Westlife take to the road agian for a tour of the Uk and Ireland, beginning in Belfast on April 3. Then it's off to Asia before returning to Britain for 20 outdoor concerts throughout July and August. "it reminds me of the days when Westlife were just starting out " says shane. " we're in such demand" but he'snot complaining."we're really full-on and that's what you have to be if you want to stayon top." But wouldn't it be nice is Westlife at last lost their boyband tag, particularly now that he's a married man and a father to boot? "whatever we say or do" claims Shane"we'll still be called a boyband in five years time-even though we'll all be in our 30s!"