boyzoneBoyzone’s Ronan Keating has revealed that the band had to work hard to get into shape for their comeback tour.

The manband’s reunion shows kicked off in Belfast on Sunday, the first time that all five of them - Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch & Mikey Graham and Ronan - have performed together in nearly seven years.

But Ronan told the Mirror that their energetic dance routines, which see them stripping down to their underwear at one point, nearly didn’t happen: “We have been working out with a fitness coach for three months. We had all put on a few pounds and the directors took one look at us and said, ‘For starters, you’re all going to have to lose some weight and get in shape or we’re going to have to pull all the dance routines.’

“Now we have our fitness guy on tour with us and we are really working out for about an hour every night - loads of weights and stomach crunches and all.

“The fitness regime got us in such good shape we decided to strip off and show off our new look.”

He added that the group are heading back to the recording studio this summer after they finish their 24-date UK tour: “We want to record three new tracks to add to our greatest hits album.”