Ronan Keating on boyband fame in the 90s: ‘Our duty of care meant nothing’

Published

4 months ago

January 28, 2025

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Ronan Keating says the members of Boyzone were “unprotected” and in “a dangerous space” when they were propelled to fame over 30 years ago.

Speaking at the worldwide premiere of Boyzone: No Matter What, the 47-year-old singer told Sky News: “We just played along with it all. I was 16, 17, 18 years of age. I was a child.”

Now a father of five, Keating goes on: “But as you get older and your children get older… you realise what we went through as kids and how unprotected we were and what a dangerous space it was.”

In 1993, five working-class lads from Dublin, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham were plucked from obscurity by talent manager Louis Walsh and moulded into stars.

Breaking into the UK charts the following year, they had conquered the world by the mid-1990s.

Six number one hits and five number one albums followed, with 25 million records sold across the world.

A master of promotion, former X Factor judge Walsh worked hard to keep the boys’ names in the papers, but that exposure came at a cost.

In October, the death of ex-One Direction star Liam Payne after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires had drew a sharp focus on the duty of care offered to those thrust into the spotlight at a young age.

But Keating says back then it was different: “Our duty of care would not have been anything. It would never have been taken into account.”

Despite that, he says the band owe Walsh a lot: “We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for what Louis did for Boyzone, what he put on the line for us.

“He has apologised and said sorry for the words that he said, the things he’s done. Somewhat. It’s tough, it’s hard, and at times my relationship with Louis – well, it’s non-existent. But I am very grateful for the opportunity he gave Boyzone and me in the beginning.”

Shane Lynch too, is forgiving when it comes to past tabloid press intrusion into his private life.

Lynch, 48, tells Sky News: “A story’s a story. A paper’s a paper. People like to hear bad stuff about you. That’s what gets them going, makes their own life feel better.

“Sometimes we were subjected to that little bit more than others. But that said, as Louis Walsh says, ‘You made the front paper!'”

So why now – three decades after they first met, and following two splits – have the band felt the need to tell their story?

Keating says: “I think with any story you need a start, a middle and an end. And I think we’ve after 30 years, we’ve finally got that.”

Of course, one key element of Boyzone is missing, with the death of Stephen Gately back in 2009 (a result of an undiagnosed heart condition) meaning the five will never again take to the stage.

Despite his loss, the remaining members see the three-part documentary as a form of tribute to their lost member, describing it as a way to celebrate and work with him again.

In tribute, Keith Duffy, 50, dressed for the event with Gately very much in mind, telling Sky News: “This shirt is for Steo. He loved a bit of print. He loved a bit of sequins. I found the perfect shirt and red was his favourite colour. I am representing Stephen tonight.”

Mikey Graham, who contributed to the documentary, did not attend the red carpet.

Speaking from Miami where he was on holiday, Louis Walsh declined comment.

Boyzone: No Matter What is available on Sky and streaming service Now from Sunday 2 February.

Entertainment

Sesame Street heading to Netflix after Trump cut PBS funding

Published

4 hours ago

May 20, 2025

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Sesame Street heading to Netflix after Trump cut PBS funding

Netflix and Sesame Street have agreed a deal that will bring the children’s show to the streaming platform’s wider audience after President Trump cut federal funding for the free-to-air TV network Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Later this year, new episodes will be shown on Netflix as well as PBS and the PBS Kids app on the same day.

Select past episodes will be available on Netflix worldwide. No specific start date has been announced.

It comes after Warner Bros Discovery decided last year not to renew its deal for new episodes on HBO and Max, though episodes will remain on there until 2027.

That was followed by Donald Trump issuing an executive order earlier this month to block federal funding to PBS and the National Public Radio (NPR) network, because he believes their coverage is biased.

For the show’s 56th season, the episodes will revolve around one 11-minute story, Netflix said.

It will feature more exploration of the Sesame Street neighbourhood and also give a look inside 123 Sesame Street, which houses Elmo, Bert and Ernie, and others.

Sesame Street said on X: “We are excited to announce that all new Sesame Street episodes are coming to @netflix worldwide along with library episodes, and new episodes will also release the same day on @PBS Stations and @PBSKIDS platforms in the US, preserving a 50+ year relationship.

“The support of Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serve as a unique public-private partnership to enable Sesame Street to continue to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.”

Sesame Workshop said in a statement: “This unique public-private partnership will enable us to bring our research-based curriculum to young children around the world with Netflix’s global reach, while ensuring children in communities across the US continue to have free access on public television to the Sesame Street they love.”

Sesame Street has won more than 200 Emmys in addition to Peabody awards, as well as a Kennedy Centre Honour for lifetime artistic achievement.

Entertainment

‘I recognise the error and upset caused’ – Gary Lineker releases statement as BBC departure confirmed

Published

16 hours ago

May 20, 2025

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'I recognise the error and upset caused' - Gary Lineker releases statement as BBC departure confirmed

Gary Lineker has confirmed he is leaving the BBC after this season’s Match Of The Day and will no longer present its World Cup coverage.

It comes after the 64-year-old “apologised unreservedly” for sharing a social media post illustrated with a rat – which has been used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including Nazi Germany.

In a statement on Monday, Lineker said: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio.

“I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.

“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”

Analysis: BBC can breathe easier after Lineker leaves

Lineker said he deleted the post when he learned about the rat’s symbolism, adding he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic”.

In a separate video posted to Instagram, the pundit added: “I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor.

“There’s no place for it and never should be.”

He went on to thank the “brilliant, talented” people he has worked with and described his relationship with the BBC as “long and wonderful”.

He added: “But it’s the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways.”

Lineker’s last appearance on the BBC will be on Sunday 25 May, the final day of the season.

What are the BBC guidelines on impartiality?

Gary Lineker signed a five-year deal with the BBC in 2020, under which he agreed to adhere to their impartiality rules.

The rules were then updated after his return to Match Of The Day in 2023.

The latest regulations say high-profile BBC presenters should be able to express their views on political issues as long as they stop short of campaigning.

It does not clarify what would constitute political campaigning for the big-name presenters.

The guidelines also stress the importance of “high standards of civility in public discourse”, which includes treating others with respect, even in the face of abuse and not using offensive or aggressive language.

The policy only applies to presenters outside of its news coverage. News presenters are still subject to stricter impartiality guidelines.

‘A defining voice in football coverage’

Also confirming Lineker’s exit, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.

“Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond.

“We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”

Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC’s director of sport, said in an email sent to staff that it had been a “difficult” and “emotional” week.

He went on to say: “It is sad to be saying goodbye to such a brilliant broadcaster and I also want to thank Gary for his years of service. As ever, if you have questions, you know where I am.

“Let’s finish the season strongly with Gary’s final show, enjoy an incredible summer of sport and look forward with excitement to what lies ahead.”

Lineker announced in November he would step down from Match Of The Day this year, but was set to return to front the World Cup in 2026, as well as FA Cup coverage.

The former England star was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policy.

He will be replaced on Match Of The Day by Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman, who will share the presenting role from the next Premier League season.

Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and has been the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent for seven consecutive years.

He joined the programme having started as a BBC Radio Five Live presenter, also working on the broadcaster’s former flagship sports show Grandstand during his early years in broadcasting.

The Leicester-born presenter is also the co-founder of podcast producing company Goalhanger, which makes the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money.

His parting ways with the BBC also includes the licensing deal for Goalhanger podcast titles on BBC Sounds, which ends this year, the PA news agency reported.

Entertainment

BBC can breathe easier that fallout from Lineker’s social media won’t land at its door

Published

16 hours ago

May 20, 2025

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BBC can breathe easier that fallout from Lineker's social media won't land at its door

Did having a social conscience force Gary Lineker off the BBC? Or was becoming increasingly vocal politically just too problematic?

The former England captain was given an exemption, as a freelancer working outside of news and current affairs, from impartiality rules the BBC’s staff have to abide by – despite being the broadcaster’s highest earner at £1.35m.

That meant he was even handed BBC primetime coverage recently, in which he critiqued the BBC’s coverage of the Middle East conflict, disputing the news side’s decision-making.

Silence on Gaza, he claimed, equates to complicity.

And Lineker has sought to show empathy with those suffering in Gaza and the mounting Palestinian death toll from IDF strikes, which Israel says are targeted at Hamas.

He has, however, faced accusations of inconsistency by being silent on other conflicts in Sudan and Yemen.

And also for showing little public concern for hostages taken by Hamas during the terror of 7 October – including Emily Damari, a fan of one of his former clubs, Tottenham Hotspur.

Highly-selective commentaries have been shared, often from fringe groups.

And then came last week’s rat emoji, which appeared on an anti-Zionist post shared on Instagram, which Lineker reposted and said he later deleted when he learned about the rat’s symbolism.

Images of rats have in the past been used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including in Nazi Germany.

The incident produced an unprecedented apology from the ex-footballer, who said he was unaware of connotations offensive to Jewish people.

As BBC Director General Tim Davie said: “The BBC’s reputation is held by everyone, and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us.”

The lack of public response from the BBC to Lineker’s apology made his future seem increasingly untenable.

Now, three decades broadcasting on the BBC will end under a cloud of controversy rather than celebration.

Lineker is even freer to give opinions – particularly through his podcast empire – and many do want to listen to him and welcome his status being used to highlight the plight of the besieged.

But the BBC can breathe easier knowing the fallout from social media posts won’t land at the corporation’s door.