mark from westlife did not appear when Westlife performed on Britain’s Got Talent on May 10. The group went on stage without him while promoting a new greatest hits album, leaving the lineup as a reminder that one of its original members is still out of view.
Westlife’s Four-Man Lineup
Westlife has carried on as a foursome since Brian McFadden left in 2004, and Shane Filan said the band has been together as four for 22 years. That is the version of the group viewers saw on May 10, with Filan, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan carrying the performance without Feehily.
Feehily’s absence tracks back to a health run that has kept him away from the group’s recent live commitments. He contracted sepsis in 2020 after a routine operation and was in intensive care, then was diagnosed with pneumonia in late 2021 and underwent four major surgeries after the first illness.
Feehily’s Recovery Timeline
In 2024, Feehily said he had to take a step back from the group because of ill health, and in June 2025 he said he had to pull out of Westlife’s 25th anniversary tour. Nicky Byrne said he did not believe Feehily would be well enough to join the lads on that tour, even briefly, adding that he was still recovering both mentally and physically.
Byrne also said, “We can’t wait for Mark to be back, we miss him dearly and we really hope he comes back soon. He’s said he’s not going to do this tour, but if something changes, that would be like a reunion in itself, it would be amazing” — a blunt line that leaves the business reality intact: Westlife can keep working without Feehily, but every major appearance now doubles as a test of how long the group can function with one original voice missing.
Brian McFadden 22 Years On
Shane Filan was equally clear when asked about Brian McFadden: “We’ve been together as four now since 2004 — that’s 22 years. You can never say never, but that would be way down the road if we’d ever consider that.” He added, “We’ve got so much ahead of us with this tour at the moment so we’re just excited about living this dream at the moment.”
That leaves Westlife’s current setup unchanged for now: a group built around three active members onstage, one absent original singer recovering, and no near-term return for McFadden in sight. For viewers, the May 10 performance was not just a promotional stop for a greatest hits album. It was another public sign that Feehily’s comeback is still being measured in time, not in appearances.
