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Royal Variety Performance viewers were left stunned to see Westlife on stage at the ITV special, claiming the Irish boyband hadn’t aged a day

Royal Variety Performance viewers were left gobsmacked to see Westlife take the stage, insisting they hadn’t aged a day.

The ITV spectacular made its return this evening, with presenter Jason Manford welcoming an array of acts including Jessie J, Paddington The Musical and Sir Stephen Fry.

During the early stages of the programme, Irish boyband Westlife delivered a medley of their biggest anthems, sending fans into raptures.

One gushed: “Westlife haven’t aged in 25 years,” whilst another declared: “The gorgeous Westlife fellas!”

A third person raved: “Westlife still the finest boy group,” while someone else exclaimed: “3 ‘Benjamin Buttons’ right there! Looking incredible boys! ! !”, reports Wales Online.

Another spectator remarked: “Well those Westlife lads are looking and sounding as good as they always did.”

Yet another agreed: “These boys from Westlife literally look the same.”

The performance saw Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan take to the stage. The Irish band formed in 1998, consisting of the three bandmates as well as Mark Feehily.

Brian McFadden was also a member of the band before he left to pursue a solo career in 2004. Westlife disbanded in 2012, but later reunited in 2018.

Mark has not joined the band in recent performances, with the group launching an upcoming world tour and releasing four songs this year.

He recently shared the health setbacks he’s faced, including a pneumonia diagnosis in 2022.

In June, Mark’s absence from Westlife’s shows was announced as part of their anniversary plans. 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.

“The four of us can’t quite believe its been 25 years. We could only have dreamt of the continued love and loyalty you have consistently shown us around the world.

“We are so lucky to have all of you with us and we can’t wait to celebrate together! Happy 25th To Us All! Love, Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane x.”

Last year, Mark had announced a temporary departure from the band, ahead of their first American tour.

He said: “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.

“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: “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.”

He continued by explaining other surgeries he required, saying he “tried my best to soldier on” for fans, but “the physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much for me”.

After developing a “incisional hernia” and requiring his fourth major surgery, Mark confirmed his temporary hiatus from the band, saying: “It is with the upmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring until a time ote: 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.”

The Royal Variety Performance is airing on ITV1.

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Michael Virgil, 35, died on board the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas cruise liner after being restrained following a violent outburst – his family are now suing the firm

A dad who died on a cruise after attacking fellow passengers was served 33 alcoholic drinks in a single day, his family claim.

Michael Virgil, 35, died on board Royal Caribbean‘s Navigator of the Seas cruise liner last year, after crew allegedly restrained him with sedatives and pepper spray when he became aggressive and violent. His family, who are now suing the cruise line, claim bar staff repeatedly served him drinks despite obvious signs of intoxication.

Mr Virgil, from Moreno Valley, California, was with his fiancée, Connie Aguilar, and their seven-year-old son when he launched into the foul-mouthed tirade just hours after boarding the cruise.

Some passengers reported hearing him use racial epithets during the outburst, and when he began threatening other passengers and attacking crew members, security put him into custody using a combination of cable ties, handcuffs, and pepper spray.

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Photographs show multiple members of staff appearing to pin him to the ground in a corridor. Mr Virgil was pronounced dead around an hour after being detained, and found to have suffered a cardiac arrest.

His family members claim he was given a sedative injection while in custody – and are blaming the cruise line for continuing to serve him alcohol despite him showing clear signs of inebriation.

US attorney Kevin Haynes told FOX 11’s Phil Shuman: “They have a legal duty not to do so. And if you’re serving someone 25, 30-plus drinks, in no world could you not see that the person is intoxicated.

“Once they created that situation, he acted out. He did not act as a normal person would. Clearly he was intoxicated. He is not a big drinker. He was known by his family as a gentle giant.”

Mr Haynes claims staff “physically restrained him with five people physically on top of him” resulting in a “mechanical asphyxiation”, similar to the fate suffered by George Floyd when policeman Derek Chauvin held his knee on his neck in 2020.

“It’s the same kind of concept that George Floyd suffered, except in this case, it persisted for three minutes, and there were other factors at play that causes death,” the attorney said.

Royal Caribbean said in a statement to US media: “We were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting any further on pending litigation.”