"I have not been eating... just drinking all the time": Ronan Keating reveals his misery after marriage break-up

"I have not been eating... just drinking all the time": Ronan Keating reveals his misery after marriage break-up

ONCE Ronan Keating was the blond-haired, blue-eyed, clean-living poster boy of pop â€" but today he is a broken man.

The Boyzone star has lost a stone in weight and says he’s been boozing too much and is almost permanently miserable.

The Irish singer’s perfect life began to unravel when it was revealed he had a two-month fling with a dancer in 2009.

Ronan and Yvonne, the mum of his three kids, tried to save their 14-year marriage but last month announced it was over.

Tired and jet-lagged after flying to Cannes from Sydney, the X Factor Australia judge says: “It’s been a horrible past few months.

“This has been by far the hardest thing I have ever had to contend with in my life, the hardest thing Yvonne and I have had to do together.

“The decision was horrible but it was for the best, and we are great now and still very close.

"We really are friends and the most important thing is that the kids are OK and happy, that the y’re not affected.”

During this time he has lost a lot of weight after hitting the bottle in an effort to find solace.

He says: “In a situation like this, ­children are always the priority, they always come first.

“I still see my kids, that side of things is completely fine â€" there are no issues.

“I’ve lost a bit of weight. I run a lot and basically I haven’t been eating â€" just drinking all the f****** time. It’s not healthy, really.”

Heartache: How we reported the break-up last month

Although Ronan, 35, and former model Yvonne, 37, split late last year, they spent Christmas together in an effort to maintain a semblance of normality for their kids, Jack, 13, Marie, 11, and Abi, six.

Both parties took to Twitter on April 1 to confirm the end of their marriage.

The move came 18 months after it emerged Ronan had enjoyed a two month fling with dancer, Francine Cornell, over the summer of 2009.

Yvonne found out about his affair when she discovered their sex text messages on a second mobile phone her husband had kept secret.

Ronan was forced to issue a public statement of apology, while the pair fought to keep their relationship together.< /p>

However, he insists they remain on good terms, determined to be good parents after agreeing on an amicable, and informal, dual custody arrangement.

And chatting at the launch party of his new film, Goddess, from a penthouse rooftop overlooking Cannes’ famous Croisette promenade, Ronan is focussed on moving on with his life.

However, he admits the pr ospect of dating again is one he does not relish. 

“This whole split has been incredibly painful,” he sighs. “I am very much single now but can’t even contemplate dating again â€" that is the last thing on my mind, even the thought of it terrifies me. I’m just not interested.”

As well as running almost daily, the heartthrob is back in the studio recording his first solo studio album of new material in six years.

Using the heartbreak of his recent marital breakdown as the basis for some of his lyrics, Ronan is confident the new record is his strongest work yet.

“I’m back in the studio, and it’s great,” he smiles.

“It’s proper pop, and I’ve been working with the guys behind Life is a Rollercoaster again. It’s almost finished but I don’t want to rush it out until it’s ready.

“I’ve drawn from the experiences from the past few months, yes; it’s personal in places.”

Still much missed: Ronan with best pal, the late Stephen Gately

On Friday, tickets for his comeback solo tour go on sale, meaning the singer will, once again, be back on the road, touring.

Yet it is this travel and lack of routine with which Ronan struggles most.

He explains: “The worst thing about travelling is that you’re always so tired, it’s really difficult to motivate yourself to train â€" I’m always too tired.

“Right now, for instance, I’m so jet-lagged. I was in Sydney this morning and flew into Cannes today â€" I don’t have eyes, I have p*** holes in the snow.

“I’m flying back to Dublin today for a day to see the kids, then fly back again to Sydney. It’s tough.”

With solo projects to prepare for, Ronan is undoubtedly throwing himself back into work in the wake of problems in his personal life.

In 2009, he was floored by the tragic news about the death of his bandmate and best friend, Stephen Gately.

In the past he has described the singer, who died in Majorca, as his greatest friend and Ronan still thinks of him every day.

But it is this grief, combined with the trauma of his very public marital breakdown, which continually motivate the dad of three.

Not only is he recording, acting and a talent show judge he also raises money for a cancer charity.

Ronan and his family set up the Marie Keating Foundation in Ireland after his mother died of breast cancer in 1998.

Last year, he successfully led a 56-mile relay swim across the Irish Sea.

Chat: Our reporter Clemmie with Ronan in Cannes

He is now organising a celebrity golf tournament, this time raising money for Cancer Research UK.

“Ant and Dec are hopefully hosting it up in Scotland in July,” he reveals.

“I’ve got pros like Gary Player involved, and quite a few celebs lined up so it should be a fantastic event.”

And, on the subject of celebrity pals, Ronan boasts an impressive black book of names.

As well as hanging out with his Boyzone bandmates, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Keith Lynch, the star is well known on the social circuit. And we’re not talking the cast of Towie.

He grins: “Cannes is pretty mad what with all the parties. It’s a knackering place to hang out, especially when you’ve just stepped off a long-haul flight.

“But the reaction to the film out here has been cool, and I’ve got to do a few bits and pieces promoting it.

“Brad Pitt has a movie out and kindly invited me to his place for a private party after the premiere.

"He’s a nice guy, and that should be fun. It’s all go for me at the moment but it’s all good. I’m just getting on with things.”

With this, he shrugs, and has another swig of his cocktail.