Louis Walsh’s boyband Next in Line reduced to four members as singer quits

Insiders reveal Neung Kelly has departed to focus on a new direction, just weeks after the combo were pipped at the post to represent Ireland in the Eurovision by Bambie Thug.

Next In Line received the top vote from the international jury when they performed Love Like Us on The Late Late Show Eurosong special, while the public made them their second choice.

Despite being reduced to a quartet, music industry figures predict there will still be a major bidding war among record companies to get the group signed.

The group now consist of Conor Davis, Joshua Regala, Conor O’Farrell and Harry O’Connell.

The group have spent recent weeks in Dublin’s Camden Studio recording their second single.

Starmaker Louis originally issued a call our for talented male and female singers aged from 16 to 21 to audition in Dublin’s Vicar Street in November 2021.

Louis, who had had success with boybands like Boyzone and Westlife, said afterwards he was not going to form a girl group as he didn’t find the right mix and was going to concentrate on the lads instead.​

Louis told us last year: “I just can’t wait for people to hear and see what they have to offer. They all have amazing voices and they are talented musicians.

“They have been recording with British pop producer Brian Higgins, who worked with Sugarbabes and Girls Aloud. He has been writing their original songs, and he’s the best in the business.

“We also brought in Steve Garrigan of Kodaline to write some songs and work with the boys in the studio,”