Former 'X Factor' winner Shayne Ward chats to us about his upcoming Croke Park gig with Westlife, being mobbed by fans, his Irish roots and why he wants a part in 'Shameless'.
Linda McGee: So Shayne, what are you up to at the minute?
Shayne Ward: Yeah, well I've got the tour, which is in May - which I'm very excited about. And after the tour I go to Australia, South Africa and then on to America for four to six weeks of recording and writing with producers. I've been very busy but at the moment my focus is on the tour.
LM: And you're also joining Westlife for some gigs - one of them being Croke Park. Is that exciting for you?
SW: I'm very excited, just because it's going to be the biggest crowd that I've ever played to and, no doubt, the guys as well. And as always a pleasure to be part of the same thing as the boys. So it's gonna be brilliant. I'm gonna bring my whole family there as well, which is cool.
LM: You've worked with the guys in Westlife a lot before, I presume you get on very well with them at this stage...
SW: Always.
LM: Every time you come to Ireland you seem to get an amazing reception here. How does it feel to be adopted by the Irish?
SW: It's just home from home. I mean that's how it is and it's really nice because I'm always getting compliments everywhere I go. I just walk through and everyone's always complimenting me on my voice. And I just think it's so nice when someone turns around and says something like that.
LM: Do you ever get a chance to live a normal life these days or is your life now completely taken over by your music commitments?
SW: I'm so used to it now that this is a normal life. I've adapted so quick anyway. I mean you do miss certain elements of your normal life before like being a bit normal, being able to walk down the street.
LM: Does it bother you having people coming up to you all the time when you're just walking down the street or whatever?
SW: Not really, as long as they're nice. As long as it's in a good way. No, it's really nice to get that. I wouldn't change it. It's a great position that I'm in so I'm not going to complain about it.
LM: So you just see the media attention as part and parcel of it all, do you?
LM: It's part of the job, innit?
LM: Do you ever see yourself moving into something like musical theatre, given your background?
SW: Yeah, it would be great cause everyone's always saying about acting. I know I did it as a kid but I'm not saying now, "Oh I'm a singer so I want to be an actor", just because I did that as a kid.
LM: What was the extent of your drama experience?
SW: I did Performing Arts as a kid in school and I'm being honest, I did West Side Story... I did lots of main parts, which was pretty cool. So whether I'm any good now I don't know. People say I am but I'll have to wait and see.
LM: But the performance element would obviously come very naturally to you anyway if you were to veer towards a musical or something like that?
SW: Oh definitely. Well I'm acting in videos anyway so it's kind of the same.
LM: And would television work interest you then - maybe a soap cameo or something? Would you consider things like that in the future?
SW: Aw, I'd love to. I've gotta get on 'Coronation Street' or 'EastEnders' cause my Mum watches all them. But 'Shameless' is my biggest one. I love that. I've watched it from the start and if I could get anything on that it'd be wicked.
LM: When you travel a lot during the tours, is it very difficult to be away from your family.
SW: Yeah, I know it sounds very cheesy.
LM: You mentioned your Mum earlier, you are obviously very close to her...
SW: Oh, very close indeed. It's got easier because now it's just a routine. I'm so used to it. At first it was exciting, I was away, they were telling everyone where I was. And then I come home, I go away again, I come home, do the same. And then it just got into a routine where yes we miss each other but not as much as it was in the first stages. You know what I mean, cause they know exactly what my job consists of.
LM: And they're obviously very proud of you...
SW: Aw, of course, of course.
LM: You've got a lot of family in Ireland, haven't you?
SW: Yeah, I've got family all over. Tuam - that's mainly me Dad's part - the Tuam Wards. Mum's more-or-less Dundalk, Dublin.
LM: So do you have to visit all the relations when you come over here?
SW: Yeah, I always gets lots of people coming up to me saying they're my cousin, so I'm not sure whether to believe them, you know what I mean. But it would be nice to meet a lot of my cousins. It would be cool.
LM: In terms of musical collaborations, is there anyone on your wish list that you'd really love to do a duet with?
SW: I'm old-school. I know I probably should pick other people but if I could I'd do one with Tom Jones - legend. I got to sing with the lead singer of the Stylistics not so long ago, Russell Thompkins Jr. If I could sing with... George Michael or Elton John. Just to duet with them would be absolutely fantastic.
LM: You mentioned earlier that you're now travelling further afield to countries like Australia. What has the reception been like over there?
SW: It's been wicked. Me album has just... it's amazing... it's just shot out there.
LM: And has 'The X Factor' been shown in any of these countries?
SW: No, not at all. So it was the challenge of going out there as a solo artist with a debut album. And basically it's turned round that... you know it was a bigger buzz for me because I'd had a boost to my confidence again because, even though I'm proud to come from 'The X Factor', it kind of proved to a lot of people that I can make it without, you know, which is pretty cool.
LM: Are you still in touch with any of the contestants who appeared on 'The X Factor' with you?
SW: Yeah of course. Andy, you know Andy's doing Eurovision, which is wicked. Always in touch with Chico. He's the main person that I keep in touch with and he's doing very well for himself.
LM: So, any juicy stories from behind the scenes on 'The X Factor'? Was it all as high-drama as it seemed on-screen?
SW: I'm gonna leave it to us and our memories of 'The X Factor' days.
LM: But no regrets about doing it?
SW: No regrets whatsoever.
Shayne Ward recently appeared on RTÉ's 'The Café'. To watch his interview and performance click here.
For more on Shayne Ward's upcoming gigs visit his official website here.
RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external websites.
