Why Kian won't be going it alone after Westlife

The Sligo man, who has proved he's well able to hold his own on the singing front during the RTE show, has said he has no plans to go it alone once he splits from his chart-topping band Westlife later this year.

"I never thought I'd enjoy the idea of doing it all on my own. I love the idea of just doing something naturally, like my garage band. I don't want to force anything and be like, 'I'm the guy from Westlife and I'm recording a song'. I just don't believe in that," said Kian (31).

"I believe that if it's meant to happen, it's meant to happen. If I end up in a band with a few of my mates and we're really good naturally, then that's great. If we're not, we're not. So in that respect, I like the idea of it but I don't see it as a reality -- it's a pipe dream."

The dad-of-one went on to say that he's forging ahead with plans to set up his own band once Westlife put away their stools for good -- but it must be something that happens organically.

"To me, the forced things are the ones that never work and I've learnt that over the years," said Kian.

The RTE mentor is now keeping his fingers crossed that his act, Jim Devine, emerges victorious from this Sunday's grand finale of the talent contest.

However, he admitted that he was shocked to see Bressie's act, Conor Quinn, leaving the show. "I had him tipped as the winner and I still think the guy has one of the best chances of having a proper record deal and having major success around the world," he said.

Meanwhile, Niall Breslin has blasted RTE broadcaster Ryan Tubridy after he questioned Conor's song choice of a stripped-back version of the Foo Fighters' hit Everlong.

The mentor went on to Tubridy's morning programme to talk about last Sunday's show. Afterwards he took to his Twitter page to vent his frustration, defending himself from claims that he gave his act bad advice. "Ryan, seriously, go listen to Everlong. Don't judge a song if you don't know it, p*sses me off," he said.

mfinn@herald.ie