The 40-year-old swapped the recording studio for TV and radio in 2014 when he joined RTE



Presenters Amanda Byram and Nicky Byrne ,during the Switch up week in Dancing with the Stars. (Image: Kyran O’Brien)

Nicky Byrne has said he wanted to “be his own man” after Westlife split and decided against bringing out a solo album.

The 40-year-old swapped the recording studio for TV and radio in 2014 when he joined RTE.

The 2fm presenter, who also hosts Dancing With The Stars, said he’s no longer known as Nicky from Westlife – six years after the band broke up.

He said: “When it came to carving out a new career after the band, I never wanted to try to do a solo album, having known the success I experienced with Westlife.

“It’s very hard to emulate what someone like Robbie Williams did. So I thought, ‘I’m going to be my own man here and create something for myself’, which I believe I have done now.

“I’m not ‘Nicky from Westlife’ any more, which is strange because that used to be my surname.”

Although he first shot to fame through music, Nicky said he can see himself as being a broadcaster for many years to come.

Speaking in this week’s RTE Guide, the dad of three added: “I see radio and TV as part of my life, like a Ryan Tubridy or a Pat Kenny. I want to be a TV presenter for a long time.” Earlier this year, Nicky and his Westlife bandmates Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Markus Feehily announced they’re set to reunite for the group’s 20th anniversary.

They will release new music – including a comeback single penned by Ed Sheeran – in 2019 and will go on tour.

Nicky said: “We look at bands like Take That, who did come back and what they do is a big album, big tour and they go away for a couple of years. Then maybe two or three years later they come back with a new unbelievable album.

Jennifer Zamparelli

“So I don’t think there’s any reason why we can’t keep Westlife in our lives for ever at that pace, every couple of years.”

Meanwhile, Nicky’s Dancing With The Stars co-presenter Jennifer Zamparelli opened up about her nerves ahead of taking over from Amanda Byram.

The 38-year-old said all eyes will be on her wardrobe choices when the show returns on January 6.

She added: “Last season the first 400 tweets were about what Amanda was wearing. So it will be how I look, then how I dance and then how I present.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be a lot of ballgowns for me – we might be a bit edgier.”