BGT star Ryan is 'too busy for love'

Melanie Finn, Showbusiness Editor

BRITAIN'S Got Talent finalist Ryan O'Shaughnessy (19) may be a chart-topping artist with a legion of adoring fans, but the former Fair City actor has revealed how he's "too busy" to find himself a girlfriend.

"I'M a single pringle at the moment. I've too much on to think about my love life," he said. However, when asked if he had a particular type when it came to the fairer sex, he confirmed that he liked exotic beauties.

"I like foreign girls -- I think Eastern European girls are gorgeous," he added.

The Skerries crooner, who hit the big time thanks to his song No Name, which tells the story of his unrequited love for a pal, scored a No 1 hit in Ireland last month with his self-titled debut album.

And the young star also said that he'd love to have another studio session with his pals in boyband sensation One Direction.

"I'm up for writing with anyone and having a jam so you never know. It would be cool to work with them at some point. We did do a bit of a writing session a month and a half ago so we might get together again. There's nothing in the pipeline yet," he continued.

He also revealed how he has been turning to band members Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson for advice on how to handle the sudden pressures of fame at such a young age.

"It's really nice to hear stories from the lads about what they've been through because they're in the limelight for a while now and it's only really kicking off for me. They're really nice lads and such normal guys. People think because they're so famous they're going to be stuck-up or whatever but they're not at all," he explained.

He'll be taking to the stage this Saturday to perform at the People of the Year Awards, which take place in Citywest and is hosted by Grainne Seoige. He'll also be at the Academy to perform for his Irish fans on October 5.

mfinn@herald.ie