Nicky Byrne was right to leave Dancing With the Stars ‘nixer’, claims Louis Walsh

It may be the most coveted job on Irish television but Louis Walsh says Nicky Byrne made the right decision to quit Dancing with the Stars because he thinks it will be a big year for Westlife.

yrne confirmed last August that he would not be returning to co-host the RTÉ show. Doireann Garrihy will take his place when it returns to season six on Sunday.

“Of course he’s right, it’s always been a side issue for him. It’s a nixer for Nicky,” said manager Louis Walsh.

Despite being devastated by Mark Feehily’s battle with pneumonia, Westlife led the New Year’s Eve festivities with an outdoor concert next to 3Arena in Dublin, attended by some 40,000 revelers.

The band will take a couple of weeks off touring before hitting the road again.

Walsh revealed that their Wild Dreams tour, which they brought to 3Arena last month, is doing “very well”.

“This is the best performance they’ve ever done because every single song is a hit and it’s like the soundtrack to so many people’s lives in Ireland,” he said.

“People can’t have enough of them so they’re going to continue touring, they’re going to Asia and China – they’re going everywhere this year.”

The band, formed in 1999, also made their debut at Wembley Stadium, with two crowded performances at the venue last August, becoming the only Irish band outside of U2 to perform. over there.

Westlife will be performing at venues in Asia including Thailand, Jakarta and Singapore next month as they perform for countless fans.

As well as managing his long run, Walsh is also mentoring his new boy band Next in Line, a five-member group chosen after a series of live auditions in Dublin last year.

Conor O’Farrell, Nueng Kelly, Harry O’Connell, Conor Davis and Joshua Regala have recorded a number of songs in a London studio with renowned musicians, including Kodaline’s Steve Garrigan.

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Walsh said he’s determined to take the time to get the perfect songs for them.

“I’ll wait until they get the right songs on before we go to a record label but I won’t rush it,” he said.