Westlife’s Brian McFadden gives a word of advice to former 1D star Quit the showbiz nonsense, Zayn

And having seen his own story mirrored in the rise and rise of 1D, Brian said Zayn’s troubles brought back memories of his own heartache.

As he begins rehearsals for a new tour alongside Boyzone’s Keith Duffy, Brian explained: “I know exactly what Zayn is going through, because I had similar problems.

“But it’s only now, more than a decade later, that I can really understand what happened. We had it all – money, fame, beautiful women, amazing cars – but in the end it just wasn’t making me happy.

“At t he end I found I was taking myself away from everyone. One day I just jumped on a plane to Australia without telling the others because I couldn’t stand any more.

“I just told the tour manager, who was shocked and insisted we had promotional stuff to do, but I just couldn’t face it.

“The rest of the lads were annoyed, obviously, but I couldn’t explain how I was feeling and just heading off away made it easier.

“When I quit I felt like I was letting people down – but I just had to get out.”

Twelve years on, dad-of-two Brian has decided the time is finally right to return to the stage, with a nationwide tour launching in October this year alongside pal Keith, 41, before heading abroad for more shows.

Zayn r ecently admitted he has been battling anxiety and stage fright since quitting One Direction. Two weeks ago he pulled out of a major performance at Wembley Stadium – apologising to fans and revealing his ongoing struggle. Brian – who has two marriages and an engagement to singer Delta Goodrem behind him – adds: “In Westlife we were friends before we were famous, but I’m not sure One Direction were quite as close. Maybe they couldn’t lean on each the way we did and that might be part of why Zayn struggled to cope. “After Westlife I struggled with stage fright myself. For years I was fine and then, out of nowhere, it just hit me. I don’t know what brought it on, but I just started to feel like everyone was looking at me everywhere I went and it made me very uncomfortable. My personal life was everywhere and it felt like people were judging me.

“One day I performed in front of 10,000 people with Delta and they booed us, it was like my worst nightmare.

Friends

“At the time I didn’t think there was any way back from that, but I was very lucky that I managed to surround myself with the right people. That world makes it hard to relate to friends outside the business.

“For years I didn’t even carry a wallet or keys because literally everything is done for you. You find the only people around you are industry people and you can’t work out who is r eally trustworthy.

“I have never believed in therapists as such, but I managed to make one or two very good friends outside the industry and talked about all my problems.

“One worked in the oil business – we were in such different worlds that it really worked.

“They’re the people who helped me turn everything around. That’s probably what Zayn needs – ignore all the showbiz nonsense and find people who he can really trust.”

Tickets for the Boyzlife Tour are available at www.boyzlifetour.com, with international dates on sale today.