AceShowbiz - Irish boyband Westlife are stunned by their long career - because record bosses predicted they'd split within five years. The "Flying Without Wings" stars found fame in 1999 as a five-piece before Brian McFadden left the group in 2004.

They've have released 11 albums to date, included a greatest hits compilation - far exceeding any expectations they ever had about their career. Singer Mark Feehily says, "There have been bits along our career - when Brian left we wondered (if we could carry on). Everyone had it drilled into our head that if someone left the band, we would fall apart and we'd be working in (fast food restaurant) Burger King."

"When we started everyone told us it'd be three albums, greatest hits, someone would go solo and that would be it."