Capitol Records were very keen for me to write and see how I got on; I think that is what defined my sound. The first session I had was with two young up-and-coming writers, Nick Atkinson and Tom Wilding, and I went into a session a bit nervous because I hadn't written that many songs before.

Yes, it's true, I have bought a helicopter. I really like it. I can't fly it, but I plan to get a licence one day.

I have three children to take care; I have a wife. My job is to take care of them, and I can say it's a pretty cool job to have.

Together with a team of financial and legal experts I have spent months exploring all possible alternatives to bankruptcy but to no avail.

Everybody, every tradesman that worked for Shafin or built my house got fully paid, well paid. Everybody got paid. I would like that to be said if I could because I haven't said it before, and it's important. People kind of think we left all these plumbers or electricians without getting paid.

The couple of years before I was declared bankrupt were the roughest. The bank letters, the pressure, the stress was awful. You're in this twilight zone of not knowing where your life is going, and yet you're in Westlife. Everything was great with the band. I was earning money, and it looked good.

You only live once, so live a good life!