Boyzone’s emotional appearance on This Morning left viewers divided after hosts Craig Doyle and Sian Welby questioned the group about the death of beloved bandmate Stephen Gately ahead of their upcoming farewell shows.
Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch appeared on the ITV daytime programme to discuss their highly anticipated reunion performances at London’s Emirates Stadium, where the band will pay tribute to Stephen, who died suddenly in 2009 at the age of just 33.
But while the interview was filled with warmth, nostalgia and heartfelt memories, some viewers were left uncomfortable by the wording used when Stephen’s absence was brought up on air — with one fan sharply commenting that it was “not really like the old days” because Stephen was no longer there. 
The Irish boyband, who became one of the biggest pop groups of the 1990s, are preparing for what is expected to be a deeply emotional farewell moment. Ronan, Keith, Shane and Mikey Graham will reunite on stage next week, although Mikey was not present for the This Morning interview, a detail that also raised eyebrows among viewers.
During the segment, Sian tried to capture the nostalgia of the group’s reunion by asking whether it felt like “the old days” when they got back together. Keith responded warmly, saying that it did, and that the band easily slipped back into the bond they had built three decades earlier.
But the conversation soon turned to Stephen.
Craig noted Mikey’s absence before adding that there was “no Stephen,” then asked whether the group would be remembering their late friend during the upcoming shows. Though the band members did not appear offended by the phrasing, some viewers felt the moment sounded awkward and lacked the sensitivity they expected for such a painful subject.
Shane responded with emotion, explaining that Stephen has always been celebrated whenever Boyzone have performed since his death. He said remembering Stephen as a band is different from remembering him privately, because when the group reunites, Stephen still feels very much alive within the Boyzone bubble.
His words were powerful and clearly heartfelt. For Shane, Stephen is not simply a sad absence. He remains part of the group’s energy, history and soul.
Ronan then added another deeply moving reflection, saying that when the band are together, it can feel as though Stephen is just getting ready in the dressing room next door. He said Stephen still feels present, still alive in spirit, and that he will be “alive” again on stage when the group perform at the Emirates.
It was a beautiful tribute from bandmates who have carried Stephen’s memory for more than 16 years. But despite the tenderness of their answers, not everyone at home was happy with the way the topic had been introduced. 
Some viewers took to social media to criticise the interview, particularly Sian’s suggestion that the reunion must feel like “the old days.” One person pointed out that it could never truly be like the old days because Stephen was no longer there. Another viewer echoed discomfort over Craig’s wording, suggesting that saying “no Stephen” felt blunt given that fans know he died many years ago.
A third viewer said the way Stephen was discussed felt “weird” and that the moment lacked a little respect.
Still, not everyone agreed with the criticism. Some viewers praised Craig and Sian’s presenting style, arguing that the interview felt natural and warm. Others said they enjoyed seeing the pair fronting the show and felt they handled the conversation with sincerity rather than overdramatising it.
That split reaction highlighted just how delicate interviews about grief can be — especially when the person being remembered remains so adored by fans.
Stephen Gately’s death in October 2009 stunned the music world. The singer died while on holiday in Majorca with his husband, Andrew Cowles. A post-mortem later confirmed he died from natural causes, specifically acute pulmonary oedema caused by an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.
For Boyzone fans, the loss was devastating. Stephen was not just a band member; he was one of the group’s brightest, warmest and most recognisable personalities. His voice, charm and gentle presence helped shape Boyzone’s identity, and his death left a permanent space in the band that could never truly be filled.
That is why any reunion will always carry two emotions at once: joy and heartbreak. Fans are thrilled to see the remaining members together again, but every performance also serves as a reminder of the friend and bandmate who should have been standing beside them.
The upcoming farewell shows are expected to lean into that emotional history. For Ronan, Keith, Shane and Mikey, honouring Stephen will not be a small part of the performance. It will be central to the meaning of the night.
Boyzone’s story has always been about brotherhood as much as music. They rose to fame as young men, navigating global attention, screaming fans, chart battles and the chaos of pop stardom together. Their biggest hits became soundtracks to countless fans’ lives, but behind the polished performances was a group who had grown up side by side.
Stephen’s death changed that story forever.
And yet, as Ronan made clear, Stephen’s spirit remains woven through everything they do. When the band gather, they do not simply remember him as someone from the past. They feel him as part of the present. That may be why Shane said he is “very much alive” when they are together — not literally, but emotionally, musically and spiritually.
That sentiment is likely to hit fans hard when the group take to the stage. There will be nostalgia, no doubt. There will be old songs, old memories and a huge crowd ready to sing along. But there will also be tears, because for many fans, Stephen’s absence is still deeply felt.
The This Morning interview may have sparked debate over wording, but the band’s message was unmistakable: Stephen Gately has not been forgotten, and he never will be.
Whether viewers found the questions awkward or touching, the emotional weight of the moment was clear. Boyzone are heading toward a farewell that is not just about ending a chapter. It is about celebrating a brother, honouring a legacy and reminding fans that Stephen’s voice still echoes through the band’s story.
And when Ronan, Keith, Shane and Mikey step onto that stage next week, one thing is certain: Stephen will be at the heart of it all. 
