In the second part of our intimate and revealing BSB interviews, Nick Carter talks to Allison Lower about growing up in one of the most famous pop bands around ...

The Private Lives of the Backstreet Boys (TV HITS)

Last time we met I couldn't believe how much you'd grown up. Do you feel more mature now?

I suppose I do. I mean I am three years older than when we started, so there are certainly going to changes in my personality as there would in any teenager, but I guess I've seen and learnt so much from the business, it's got to have changed me in some way. But you know, I still feel like a kid in a lot of ways. I like to have fun and be kinda foolish and reckless as well, just like any other 17 year old!

Do you find that because of the band you can't let yourself be as wild as you'd really like?

Not really. I have my own time when I can act any way I like. The only real restrictions are that sometimes we can't go to certain places because we'll get recognised and it gets difficult, so you have to learn to be secret about it, but when we're on our own I'm totally relaxed and me and B-Rok are always goofing around.

When you go home, do your friends and family think you've changed?

Yeah, they probably notice it more than anyone because I'm away for months at a time so they don't see me changing. They do understand what I'm going through, though, and realise it takes a certain amount of maturity, but at the same time, when I get home I get to relax and just be my regular self, all crazy and that!

So what do you do for fun at home?

I like to play basketball as much of the time as possible! And it's great 'cause I can play it when we're on the road as well, and although I like rollerblading too, I can't really carry them round with me.

Being the youngest, do you have an equal say in the band?

Totally. I've got just as equal a part in the band as the other four. That's what this group's all about - we decide on everything we do, from which record we're going to release, to what direction we're going in. We're all shareholders in our own company so everything is down to us.

All your mates must be going off to college round about now. Would you like to go?

Yeah, I've actually been thinking about it quite a lot recently and maybe one day when I have some time I'll do it. I'd probably take Art or something as my major, but I'd mainly like to play basketball.

Now you're getting older, have you thought about gettingyour own place?

No way. I'm gonna be living with my folks for a long time yet. I have absolutely no interest in moving out - besides, I'm never there! Anyway, I'd have to get someone in to do the washing and cleaning and stuff, 'cause I'm useless at all that!

Because you're involved in such a grown up world, do you find you go for older women? I don't really think of age as being an issue. I never really get time to talk to fans much these days as we're always being rushed off, so I probably spend more time with otlder girls, like other artists and people in the business. But I don't get time to date anyway at the moment.