IT may have been a grim 12 months for Westlife but Simon Cowell's favourite band are looking forward to a great 2010.
And the key to that will be keeping their most famous fan happy.

The lads, still our top-selling boy band after 11 years, are pop guru Simon's breakthrough success story.

And they constantly remind the record company chief he was not always the stellar name he is today.

In the final day of our Westlife series, Shane Filan reveals: "The big reason we still do so well is down to our relationship with Simon.

"We have worked together for 11 years and things go from strength to strength. Simon speaks highly of us, which means the world."

But Kian Egan points out: "We used to slag him off about his shoes and his high trousers before anybody knew who he was.

"We used to slag off the shoes so badly, the big heels. Cobbler's shoes, we called them.

"We used to pull his trousers down lower and pull the T-shirt down and rip the p**s out of him, mocking his posh accent.

"As soon as he got on TV, people saw exactly what we saw and started to do the same thing."

Shane adds: "We were one of the first bands on Simon's S Records label, which he sold to BMG for £22million.

"He got a lot of money then before TV took over."

Despite almost 50million record sales, 14 number one songs and a host of sold-out tours, Westlife are still hungry for more.

"We're pocket change to what Simon makes annually but we've got history with him," says Shane.

"The hardest thing to do in our situation is sustain success.

"Every year is like a mountain to climb for us, even though people expect us to succeed now. We s**t ourselves before the midweek chart - we are still so ambitious."

The past year has seen the band rocked by tragedy. They have been hit by what they call "a big wave of death" that has struck their friends and family.

The recent loss of close pal and Boyzone singer Stephen Gately hit them hard, but Kian also lost his father, as did bandmate Nicky Byrne.

But with their usual upbeat, positive attitude they are now even more determined to appreciate everything they have and continue to enjoy life to the full.

Westlife have spent the best part of a year out of the spotlight, but in my interview with Shane, Kian, Nicky and Mark Feehily it was obvious they have used this testing 12 months to grow stronger.

Kian told me about the terrifying moment they discovered their good pal Stephen had passed away and Shane, 30, says: "Until then, we hadn't really thought about people from our generation not being here.

"As singers we are always thinking about the next album, the next tour, the family growing.

"You don't think about being dead. You would never think that about someone in your own band.

"If one of us died... it's a terrible thought but that would be it. Over. We couldn't carry on as a band.

"For us, it makes you realise how important the other members of the group - your dearest friends - are to you, and it makes you appreciate life an awful lot more."

Kian, 29, adds: "I had been out in the local with mates, gone home and fallen asleep on the couch.

"A mate rang me and told me about Stephen and I thought it was nonsense. I rang Louis Walsh (Boyzone's and Westlife's manager) and sure enough got the same response. It was truly awful.

"It has been a really tough year. On top of that both my dad and Nicky's dad died either side of that. My dad was 64 and had been sick for a year.

"My mum said to me we are at that age now where we start losing people.

"My grandmother, my wife Jodie's grandfather, Nicky's dad, my dad, Stephen...

"My mum said in her life, death sadly comes in waves and we are experiencing one of those big waves now. At the funeral of Stephen the four of us sat together with our partners.

"Brian (ex-Westlife member McFadden) happened to be sat in front of us. I remember looking at Brian and just feeling so sad, realising life is too short.

"We all felt the same - like we all needed to give him a big hug. I felt so sad towards him.

"Once the Boyzone speeches came out we were in pieces."

Shane adds: "It was after 1am when I found out about Stephen. I rang Louis and it was like 'boom'.

"He told me it was right and said he couldn't speak. I will never forget it as long as I live.

"In Ireland Stephen was a massive icon, a true pop star. He was one of us and he was dead.

"It just doesn't happen, so it was truly upsetting and tragic.

"We appreciate each other so much more since.

"We're thankful for what we've got and for having each other because life is so precious, and sometimes you can forget that."