HE'S been flexing his acting muscles on television in recent years, but Keith Duffy found treading the boards his most difficult task yet.
The Boyzone singer has just returned from a holiday in Spain with his wife Lisa and their kids Jay and Mia.
Keith jetted over to the sunshine after his debut on the West End stage in London with A Handful of Stars and the former Coronation Street star told the Diary he was in serious need of a break.
CONCERTS
"I've literally been away for six months, we finished the play on July 27 and then there were a few concerts with the lads, so it was great to get over to the family and chill out."
Even though there is little money in theatre, the 39-year-old said it was important for him to show that he's serious about acting.
"It's very difficult for casting directors to take a chance and because of Boyzone I'm a familiar face," he said.
"It's a hard graft and it's terrifying, but the reviews were phenomenal and to get that positive reaction when you come from a musical background is fantastic.
TOUGH
"It was a tough enough role, it was gruelling too because we had six shows a week and then on my day off I had a concert with Boyzone."
Even though he appears in two episodes of season four of RTE hit Love/Hate, Dubliner Keith revealed to the Diary that he will not feature in the next instalment, due to air in October.
"I was delighted to get a part in it, but there were a lot of mixed opinions about me and sometimes people in Ireland are hard to please."