In usual circumstances this would be a jolly interview. Westlife were, until up very recently, the picture-perfect band with the near-perfect life. They had success, wealth, love, humour, healthy children, flash cars, fine suits and holiday homes abroad. But 2009 changed all that. Nicky knew it was too good to be true, knew the bubble had to burst and when it did, it threw his world asunder. Kian, who also lost his father earlier this year, is a different man. His perspective on life and death has changed utterly. It's also been tough on Mark and Shane and their wives who have all had to watch from the sidelines. But the show must go on and it did.

Following Nicky Snr's sudden passing Nicky was back two weeks later on the promotional grind for the new album, Where We Are. Nicky looked tired and thin but it was he says just the distraction he needed.

So, what's it like being back?
Shane: It's great being back. A year off is a long time doing nothing. Gillian had a baby a year ago so we were getting used to having another baby; it was a big change in the family.

And now there's an even bigger change on the way...
Shane: There is! Gillian is due our third in February; She was pregnant twice in the year off! We are very excited about it, she thinks it's a girl but I have a funny feeling it's another boy. One of us is right!

2009 has been a bad year for Westlife.
Shane: We started 2009 with all our dads and now two of them are gone - it's been a really weird year for deaths. Stephen's death was horrific; I still can't believe it - he was only 33. It made us realise how short life is.

Nicky, how are you coping?
I'm doing okay, publicly, but I have my moments as does anyone who has lost someone. I always felt that life was too good. The band have been flying for 10 years, I'm blessed with two gorgeous kids, happily married, big house, nice few quid in the bank; I always thought something would have to go wrong and then it did.

How's your mum holding up?
She's a strong woman but she was going with dad since she was 14 years old. Mum was the boss but dad always depended on her. We are all around her trying to make it better. It's tough on my brother as well; he's only 19 and still at home, but it's a blessing that he is because if she was completely on her own it would be 50 times harder. We're coping but it's the finality of it all that we can't get into our heads - it's not a dream, he's not coming back. I can't understand how I'm never going to talk to or see him again, that breaks me and if I'm on my own and start thinking like that I need to get out.

Kian you've had a pretty awful year too...
It's been pretty weird. The day we had the final auditions for the girl band, that's when my dad had his brain hemorrhage - he was 63. A few days later we found out he had a brain tumor, he was operated on, the tumor was taken out, he had chemotherapy through Christmas, and then in February they realised that the tumor had come back and was bigger and stronger. Jodi and I were due to get married on the 8th May and we were trying to figure out if it was the right thing to go ahead or to not.

You went ahead with the wedding in Barbados in May as planned. Was it hard to enjoy it with your father absent and very unwell?
Because it was in a different country, we didn't forget about it but we could put it out of our minds a little. It was an amazing time and there is nothing I would change about my wedding. We really lived it up but came back to a very harsh reality that dad was really dying. Jodi's grandfather passed away three weeks after the wedding, then my dad, then Stephen Gately, then Nicky's dad - so many deaths this year. I just want 2009 to be over and I don't want to be at another funeral this year. Jodi had never been to a funeral until my grandmother's last Christmas and this year she's been at five. It's not right.

Kian, how do you think Nicky is doing?
As best as can be expected. It was better for Nicky's dad to go suddenly but it was tougher on the family. If I had the choise of telling my dad to walk across the street and get hit by a bus or get cancer and spend the next year in bed dying, I'd choose the bus. I've leanred a few things about death - I understand the comment, 'Sorry for your loss,' but I almost feel like saying, 'Don't be sorry for me, be sorry for my dad, Nicky's dad. Be sorry for Stephen Gately'. They're gone, we're still here.

Mark, how have this year's losses affected you?
Everything you do is for your family and loved ones so it defeats the purpose if you are so busy you never get the chance to see them. As I approach 30 that's more where I see my life, I want to balance career success with career satisfaction. And it's not all about selling as many albums as you can no matter what the cost. It's about selling albums you are proud of.

You are proud of this album though...
Shane: The last few years we've been cover heavy and a bit lazy. As a band we weren't happy; we thought we were underachieving.
Mark: We allowed ourselves to go too far down that play-it-safe record company path. There is a balance between playing it safe and the record company getting what they want. Music should be organic not clinical.

Where We Are has a bigger sound...
Shane: It's more epic. There's more variety and more tempo; I think it's a bit edgier and sexier. The fans have been waiting for this for years. I honestly think they have been starved.

This album also features Mark's first co-write with Shaznay Lewis formerly of All Saints.
Shane: Mark has always been a talented writer but afraid to write for Westlife. In general Mark is insecure but he has come out of his shell a lot in the last couple of years and is a lot happier and open. He's definitely got a song-writing talent and we are going to encourage him to do more.

Mark, are you really shy and insecure?
I don't know but this has given me a boost. That's another thing that the year off has done for me, it allowed me decide what was important, what made me happy and equally what made me unhappy.

So, what's with the X perfume?
Nicky: It's a box set with body wash and pefume. There are pictures of us on it so you can look at us as you wash yourself!

Are Gillian, Georgina and Jodi smelling of X?
Shane: Oh yeah!
Nicky: The three wives were all involved in the process; it took us ages to decide on a scent.
Shane: We had meeting after meeting and we weren't happy with a smell for a long time but all eventually agreed on this one. It's a lovely smell, kind of lemony, light and fruity.

So Mark, you're the only unmarried. Any plans?
It's a natural progression to any relationship but not something that we are planning at the moment. Kevin is in very good form. He's been getting his teeth stuck into photography. I wouldn't push him if I didn't think he was good but I genuinely think he is.

What's the plan for Christmas, Kian - yours or Jodi's?
This time it's my turn to be in England so we'll have Christmas with Jodi's family. Last year it was more important for me to be with my family because we knew it was going to be dad's last Christmas. But it is our first Christmas as a married couple and I've got to keep it happy.

You and Jodi still in honeymoon bliss?
We never really got into honeymoon bliss to be honest. We are only slowly falling into it now which is weird six months later, and we haven't physically had a honeymoon yet but we'll probably do that at Christmas.
Mark: I'm going to be in Sligo for Christmas. Kevin's family is coming over - I'm very excited. Christmas can be a bit monotonous going through the motions, but we are going all out with this one. Kevin is practically good enough to be a cook so we're doing it ourselves. It's going to be an Irish Christmas with a couple little elements of his own tradition as well.

Nicky, will Christmas lift the mood for your family a little?
Yeah, it will be hard, but Jay and Rocco are so excited so that will definitely lighten the mood a little. The Aherns and Byrnes will all be together so there'll be strength numbers.

Shane?
It will be a big family Christmas, Santa Claus stopping by! I like Christmas. Who doesn't!