Boyzone star 'missing' from BBC One's Ronan Keating and Friends: A New Year's Eve Party
The reasons behind Miley Graham's departure from the band were explained in their 2025 Sky documentary
Ronan Keating helped viewers on BBC One see in the New Year last night (December 31), with his Ronan Keating and Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party.
The Boyzone frontman was joined by a host of stars, including I’m A Celebrity’s Shona McGarty, Louise Redknapp and two of his three surviving Boyzone bandmates.
The show saw Ronan backed by a live band, as he performed some of his biggest hits to a studio audience. The pre-recorded special also saw Ronan – who was actually in Verbier, Switzerland for New Year’s Eve – pay tribute to his late bandmate Stephen Gately. He died back in 2009.
However, as Ronan led the charge into 2026, viewers spotted someone ‘missing’…
Ronan Keating ‘kills it’ with his BBC New Year’s Eve Party
With Jools Holland and his Hootenanny on BBC Two, Ronan had some stiff competition in the battle for viewing figures. However, die-hard Boyzone fans were loving having the Irish singer on their screens.
“Well #ronankeating yes killed it on the BBC NYE show. Never mind the very English firework display – that’s how you see New Year in! Well done Ronan,” said one. Another commented: “Absolutely wonderful performance by Ronan Keating tonight to help ring in the New Year. Those moves and that stage presence reminds me of Bruce Springsteen, audience loving it!”
“Ronan Keating has already made my 2026,” another fan commented. “Say what you like but he’s not that bad and I’m enjoying it,” another added.
Not everyone felt the same, though…
Shane sparks backlash
Later in the show, Boyzone hunk Ronan brought out bandmates Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy for a performance of two of the band’s songs – Love Me For A Reason and Picture of You.
The songs were originally sung by Ronan and Stephen Gately, with the rest of the band on backing vocals. However, with Stephen sadly gone and fifth bandmate Mikey Graham also absent, it came to Keith to duet with Ronan. Shane, meanwhile, stayed on backing vocals – something that caused many at home to comment that Shane was earning ‘money for nothing’ with his appearance on the show.
“Shane Lynch is milking it up on that stage,” said one. “Somebody phone the police: Shane Lynch is stealing a fee for this,” said a second. A third also commented and said: “Can Shane actually sing?” Was it worth Shane turning up?” another asked.
Others asked where Mikey Graham was. Commenting last night, after Ronan’s New Year’s Eve spectacular, one said: “Just not the same without Mikey – Boyzone destroyed him.”
So what happened to Mikey Graham?
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Mikey ‘had to get away from toxic environment’
Last year, Sky’s Boyzone documentary No Matter What shed light on his fractured relationship with his bandmates. Mikey explained how things came to a head during the group’s 2019 farewell tour.
Keith admitted: “There were things that happened that were cruel. I’m not going to express any more than that.” Mikey, however, did, and shared: “I just wanted to get out of there, get away from that toxic environment.”
After wrapping the tour with five nights at the London Palladium, Mikey became estranged from the band. His parts of the documentary were filmed separately to Ronan and the rest of the boys. However, he did explain in the three-part series that he harbours no ill feeling towards the trio.
Later this year, the boys will head out on the road for two final Boyzone shows. And, in news that has been welcomed by fans, Mikey will be joining them on stage at London’s Emirates Stadium.
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