Marriage, babies, bad haircuts, and 'that' Boyzone split. Ronan reveals all...

You've done all right for yourself since you've been in Boyzone. What's been the highlight?

There have been so many highlights of my career. It was amazing when we had our first No1 single with Words, then having a No1 album with Said and Done, then our first arena tour - there have been so many different factors. I couldn't pick any one thing! I've been very lucky. We've just kept going further and further, from Father and Son, through to A Different Beat, Picture of You, No Matter What, we've just turned the corner and kept on going...

What's been your worst moment on stage?

I fell off the stage once and I forgot the words. Then there was this time when we were in France and there were mirrored walls, Keith ran into and window and Stephen ran straight into the glass. I nearly wet myself laughing!

What do you do when you get time off?

The other evening Yvonne and I had a really romantic night out. We just went for a quiet walk with Jack and it was just lovely. The weather was nice, too. Simple things like that keep me happy. I go home and I clean out the dogs and horses' mess, go out to the newsagents and buy the newspapers, clean the cars, make a cup of tea and just relax.

Blimey, you've got horses, too!

Yes, Yvonne is the horse fan. She has horses in her blood, so we keep them. We're not planning to race out horses (they have three), but you never know what's round the corner.

You've also got loads of famous chums...

Well I'm lucky enough to know Bono. We've had a few good nights out with U2 in Japan and Australia, they're a laugh. There are a lot of people I'd still like to work with and like to think I will work with. I'd like to work with people like Babyface or R Kelly 'cos I really admire them.

What's the maddest lads' night out you've had?

(shakes his head) I couldn't pick one! Keith had the biggest bar bill - it was a couple of grand! But we have a joint account that we work out for things like that!

Do you and the other fellas ever stay in and chill out together?

Yes, I'm lucky enough that when the guys come round, we just have a couple of beers and chill out, watch a movie and have dinner. We're still comfortable in each other's company and we're friends outside the band. That's quite important.

Who are you closest to in the band?

Keith and Steve. We're all good friends, but they're the two guys I'd go home with and have a laugh. I'd like to think that we'll still be close in 20 years' time.

What if you left?

If the lads were upset with me for leaving the band that's their choice, but I'd hate to think that would change the fact that we're mates. I think we'll always be friends no matter what happens.

Would Boyzone still exist as a quartet without you?

Well, I'd wish them all the best, but I don't know if that's gonna happen. I can't say. But I wouldn't want to go down with a sinking ship. I want to go out whilst we're still at the top.

How soon before Boyzone split?

I don't know how it's going to work out, I really don't know what's around the corner. You're only as big as your last single and we're doing very well at the moment, so who knows? We do talk about our futures. If we split, I think we'd make a clean break. I don't think it'd be fair if our commitments lay in other places.

What's left to achieve?

Success in America, bigger singles, bigger, better songs, duets with superstars, there are so many other things to do. I'd love to do a song with George Michael and one with kd lang.

Do you regret any of the band's images?

We've had some bad ones and I'm sure I will look back on myself and think 'Why did I ever wear that?'. I do it already, I look at pictures of me with my Tin Tin haircut and cringe!

Which one of Shane's haircuts is your favourite?

I liked the one where he had a back-combed bit pulled right to the front. They're all different in their own way, but each to their own and all that!

Does hangin' with the boys from Westlife make you feel old?

It does make me feel older because I've been through what the lads are about to go through. I tell them, 'Be nice to people on the way up, because you're sure to meet them on the way down. Treat people with the same respect you would want people to treat you with.' I think that's the best advice I can give them.

Do you ever think about how famous you are and panic?

I do all right. I have got a good family lifestyle. I've got people around me to help me with all that. I wouldn't change this for the world. It's made me a much stronger person and it's opened my eyes to what goes on in the world. We're clever enough to understand that.

What's Jack like to look after?

He sleeps and eats and cries... and sleeps and eats and cries... he's just so easy to look after. He's fantastic.