'KIDS ARE A GREAT WAY OF DE-STRESSING' - INTERVIEW BY CATHERINE NIXEY

Ronan Keating, 28, has been called the 'nicest man in pop'. He now lives in Dublin with his wife, Yvonne, and their two children. He is currently walking across Ireland to raise money for a breast cancer charity.

Do you believe in gyms?

Well, I have a gym in my house and I do train a bit in it " I ran yesterday for an hour-and-a-half " but that's the first time I've trained for a week. I don't do it every day " I wish I did, but with my schedule it's very difficult to.

Are you proud of your physique?

I wish I was in better shape " I'd love to have a six pack for example " but I don't have the will power. I like to go out, eat dinner and have a few pints and if you do that you can't be perfectly 'ripped up'. Though I think that I get the best of both worlds, as while I'm not in perfect shape I'm not a blob either.

What are your favourite foods?

I am a real foodie. I love going to a good French restaurant, and I love sushi. But then I also love going for a few pints and then popping down to the local chippie.

Butter or margarine?

Margarine, for health reasons.

Are you a Guinness man?

I do sometimes drink Guinness, though now I try mostly to drink red wine. I also like whiskey " but the older you get the less of all that you can do. I do drink, but in moderation.

When was the first and last time you bought a pack of cigarettes?

I've never bought a pack in my life and I don't smoke. I have smoked cigars a couple of times when I've been out with the lads; but that's it.

What raises your blood pressure?

People without manners, people who are not loyal, people who aren't honest and decent.

Are you easily stressed?

No. I used to be. When I was in the band in the old days I would get wound up about really little things, but not any more. After 10 years in this business I've become a lot more thick-skinned.

How do you cope with stress?

I'll just go for a run if I'm stressed, or play some golf or watch a film with the kids. Kids are actually a great way of de-stressing as they make you look at things very simply, and they help put things into perspective.

How did you cope with having young children and a pop career?

It was hard, but my wife's fantastic " she controls the family life when I go on the road. When I was in the thick of work she would be the one to get up at night to look after the kids " I was very lucky in that respect. It wasn't that I was afraid to do it, but if I had to work the next morning then I couldn't really.

What's in your medicine cabinet?

I'm a bit medicine mad. In my medicine cabinet I'll always have some ecinacea, some multivitamins, cold and flu remedies, effervescent vitamin C tablets, a couple of bottles of cough mixture and some cough sweets.

Do you try alternative remedies?

Yes, I'll try anything. One of the oddest alternative remedies I've tried was shark fin soup which I was given once when I was in Korea. I was given it as a remedy for sickness but it tasted so disgusting it only made me worse.

Thanks to Regina!