Twenty years ago, a bunch of fresh-faced Irish lads were getting ready to make their debut.

Two decades on, and Westlife are on their most successful tour ever - 400,000 tickets sold in 48 hours no less.

“We're older, wiser and we have nine kids, a 10th on the way, between us,” says Shane Filan ahead of the first of three shows for the band at Manchester Arena .

“I think this is more special, because of the kids, for us. We see them running around the hallways and they have their Westlife t-shirts on.

“They're our kids so it means an awful lot more to us to be on stage when they are out there and they're old enough to understand what daddy does.”

Westlife are back on stage after seven years

The band, made up of Shane, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily, have enjoyed a glittering career - 55 million albums worldwide, producing 14 number one singles, the only band to have their first seven singles hit the top spot.

“There is something very special about Westlife, the four of us together," Shane says.

“The connection we have with the fans is very, very powerful when you are on that stage and you see all those people looking at you, singing these songs, they're laughing, crying and it's not just a band.

Westlife starting out as a five-piece in 1999

“That might sound mad to say that but it does feel like it's an event rather than just a concert. It's a moment.”

But it hasn’t always been a love-in, as Nicky explains.

“I think 20 years is commendable to everybody. One, the fact that we still like each other and manage to do it because look, we have fallen out over the years.

“We've all had those moments and it's like what brothers do. It's like Christmas being around the table.

“You love your family but you have that argument and you think 'I can't f***ing stand you' and then five minutes later you are hugging again.”

This alludes to the fact that the band called it quits seven years ago, a time when Nicky says that they 'all wanted it to stop'.

The band had already had to adjust to losing an original member by that stage.

Brian McFadden, 39, who now lives in Rochdale, left the band in 2004, leaving the quartet to go on and release another eight albums.

A young Brian left the band in 2004

So when the band announced their reunion and subsequent tour, there were questions, mainly from fans, as to whether they would be joined by Brian to celebrate their career milestone.

“I think it was never even in our minds because Brian left so long ago,” says Shane.

“It was 15 years ago now and so it's like a different band, a different time in our lives and I suppose when he left, we went on for another nine or 10 years and kind of built the band that it is now.

“I suppose it's like going to school with somebody and we all went on to college without someone we went to primary school with. That's just the way it is and how we look at it.”

The comeback - which the band call ‘Westlife 2.0’ - is a nostalgic look back, but thanks to the help of a pretty big pop star, 'an extra bit of spice' has been added.

When five became four

Nicky says: “The thought of coming back for all of us was obviously exciting and we didn't know how big it was going to be or what we'd manage to do.

“We knew there would be some sort of nostalgic feel but I think doing the new album and recording songs with Ed Sheeran put an extra bit of spice to the whole thing I think for everyone and ourselves.

“I think what it has enabled us to do is when we get out there and sing those old songs, share those memories from 19 years ago with all those people and then with the new songs it makes it feel like, as we keep saying, Westlife 2.0.

“I think the option for us to come back and just do a nostalgia tour was always there but we wanted to come back and do more than that.”

The band played at Manchester Arena on May 30, and will return later this month for another two dates.

“It's a special place,” Nicky says of Manchester.

“I always say this about Manchester, I don't know whether anyone believes in reincarnation and I don't know whether I do either, I'm not being a weirdo, but I'm just saying every time I come to Manchester I feel like I have lived here or played for Manchester United in a past life.”

Westlife announced their reunion at the end of 2018, much to fans delight

Shane added: “We do get a bit excited coming to Manchester. It has a special place for us.

“I think the first tour is always a special memory here as well because we played seven nights here. I think we were the first band to do that, maybe before Take That had done it.

“I'm not sure, maybe Take That would have a different version on that story.”

During their first show, Kian dedicated their cover of You Raise Me Up to those who may have lost someone they love as well as to those affected by the tragic Arena attack two years ago.

"It was very sad,” says Shane, “I felt it straight away.

“I was actually thinking about (the attack) coming into the show and I can just imagine that for people of the city how it's still going to affect them for a very long time.

The Twenty Tour is heading back to Manchester

“The show is a special gig because there are so many families affected by it and I hope some of those families are here or somebody that will know one of those family members and we can just give them a bit of happiness whatever that song may be."

Nicky adds: “When we announced the reunion tour (the attack) was the first thing I thought about. I remember that night.

“But I think Manchester is a resilient city and I think it seems to pull together in times of need.”

Westlife play Manchester Arena on Friday June 28 and Saturday June 29. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster .

Contact us

Got a story or an issue you want us to investigate? Want to tell us about something going on where you live?

Let us know - in complete confidence - by emailing newsdesk@men-news.co.uk, calling us on 0161 211 2920, tweeting us @MENnewsdesk or messaging us on our Facebook page. You can also send us a story tip using the form here.

Join the Manchester Evening News breaking news Facebook group for a place to read and talk about breaking news in Greater Manchester.

To download our app to get all the latest news visit here.