Louis Walsh blasts Ronan Keating in scathing interview: ‘It’s over for him’

| Deputy Entertainment Editor Published October 27, 2026 10:50am Updated October 27, 2026 11:09am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Louis Walsh has reignited his feud with Ronan Keating, declaring: ‘His career is dead’. The former X Factor judge was Ronan’s manager while he was in Boyzone, and credits himself with much of the pop band’s success. Ronan, 49, has previously claimed that once he cut ties with Louis, 74, he became vindictive and ‘tried to ruin his career’. The Popstars judge has now taken more digs at his former pop protégé, claiming his popularity is declining and he’ll never have another hit single again. Speaking on the latest episode of The Big Interview, Louis said: ‘I did all the work on Boyzone, everybody knows that. ‘They were the puppets for Westlife, and I picked all the songs.’ ‘He’s singing all the old songs now, he doesn’t have a record deal,’ Louis said of Ronan (Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty Images) Ronan fired Louis as a manager after their relationship turned sour (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire) Louis went as far as comparing Ronan, who has sold over 20million records worldwide, to a karaoke singer. Ronan, along with the late Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham, ended up having six number one singles and four number one albums in the UK, making them the second most successful British boyband behind Take That. After Ronan took a break from the band to go solo in 1999, Louis continued to be his manager as the performer released hits like When You Say Nothing At All and Life is a Rollercoaster. ‘Ronan started believing his own publicity then,’ Louis said. ’He said to me one day in the Four Seasons, “I don’t want to be a karaoke artist anymore.” But that’s what he is! ‘I was picking all the songs – he hasn’t had a hit since. He hasn’t! He’s singing all the old songs now, he doesn’t have a record deal. He was great to work with at the start, but then he believed it.’ Despite Ronan returning to Boyzone, with the band operating as a four-piece and embarking on a huge stadium tour this year, Louis reckons his pop star status is ‘over’. Louis said Ronan will ‘never be a pop star now’ (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) The group remains the second most successful boyband in the UK (Picture: Ilpo Musto/Shutterstock) ‘It’s over – he’s never going to be a pop star now. He’s never going to have another hit. I’m happy. ‘We had great times together, we had great fun, but it was a bad divorce, and it’s fine – I’m over it. I’d say he’s happy enough in his life, because he’s always gonna be working. ‘He’ll either be a DJ, or he’ll act, or he’ll dance. He can do anything.’ Last year, Ronan discussed his feud with Louis, blasting him for ‘not giving a f**k’ about his music career while he pursued TV opportunities. On Sky documentary Boyzone: No Matter What, he explained: ‘Louis became a TV personality – he was given that chance because he was the manager of Boyzone and that took a lot of his time. Ronan continued: ‘Things started falling into place and you realise, Louis is not a great manager. I gave him multiple opportunities to fix things. ‘I have one shot at my career and he didn’t give a f**k, it fell on deaf ears.’ Ronan also hit out at Louis for making ‘the wrong choices’ for him as a solo artist. Deals of the Day See London's Christmas lights from an open-top double-decker bus this winter My skin always suffers when the heating goes on but this serum changed that The skincare formula that finally took the guesswork out of my routine Families can save up to 20% on summer 2027 holidays in Club Med's four-day sale Cold mornings are coming and this is the dressing gown I want to live in Metro has contacted representatives for Ronan Keating for comment. Arrow MORE: Louis Walsh had a ‘minor heart attack’ while filming Celebrity Big Brother Switched On Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.