Herald Article

12th February 2010

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/mikeys-eurovision-plans-may-backfire-badly-on-him-warns-bandmate-keith-2060842.html

Boyzone star Keith Duffy fears his bandmate Mikey Graham's plans to represent Ireland at the Eurovision song contest could backfire -- and have a negative impact on his career.

The dad-of-two admits he is concerned that Mikey's participation in the contest could backfire, as his pal is currently riding a wave of success after ITV's Dancing On Ice.

"There is a risk factor to it, of course there is," Keith told the Herald. "Mikey's track record is very good and clean. I think that his own personal profile is now at the strongest and best it's ever been.

"His success on Dancing on Ice has been phenomenal and I'd hate to think that something like this could backfire on him and jeopardise all that.

Duffy meanwhile has had his own hands full, after making a return to popular ITV soap, Coronation Street in recent weeks. And he admitted that financial pressures were partly behind his decision to return to the hit show.

The 35-year-old revealed that investments he made at the height of his pop and acting fame had collapsed in the recession.

"I'm not putting a figure on it but I've had losses on property investments. I've just had to tighten my belt and go out and graft again," he said.

The Dubliner has reprised his role as barman Ciaran McCarthy and says he's been welcomed back to the cobblestone streets with open arms.

Keith went on to explain how he and fellow Boyzone stars, Ronan Keating and Shane Lynch were in the dark about the singer's decision to enter his song, Baby, Nothing's Wrong to be performed by himself, until just a few weeks ago.

"To go for the Eurovision is a brave move and naturally we'll be there backing him the whole way. Mikey keeps his cards close to his chest until he has everything firmed up so we didn't really know too much about it until a couple of weeks ago.

"When it was announced that his song was chosen as one of the finalists in the Eurosong contest he sent us all a text to let us know and we're really happy for him," he added.

The song was originally written by Mikey for his wife, Karen and saw the singer beat off stiff competition from hundreds of aspiring composers including his own bandmate, Ronan Keating to secure his place in the Eurosong final, set to take place on March 5.

The news is sure to have come as a blow to the band's frontman, Ronan, who also missed out on the chance to represent Denmark at the annual song contest this year.