Post by Helen on Apr 30, 2006 21:04:00 GMT
By Karen Ireland
20 April 2006
After Boyzone Keith Duffy forged a successful acting career in Coronation Street. But, as he tells Gerry Kelly, his proudest moment came during a transatlantic telephone conversation with his autistic daughter Mia. He also reveals why his friendship with Ronan Keating will never be the same.
Watching Keith Duffy on the set of Gerry Meets ... he appears much more mature and likeable than the all-singing, all-dancing boyband idol of the early '90s.
It's also clear that he's at his happiest and proudest when talking about his family - wife Lisa and children, Jordan (9) and Mia (6).
In particular he is vocal in his pride in his young daughter, who has autism, and recalls the frustration and heartache he and wife Lisa went through while waiting to have Mia properly diagnosed.
He is especially emotional about the special schooling programme which he says has changed her life.
"I was working in America recently and I phoned home," he tells Gerry. "Mia answered the phone and said 'Hello, who is speaking please?'
"When I told her it was daddy, she told me to come home as she needed me, then she hung up the phone.
"I was so chuffed," he adds, bursting with a father's pride. "Not only did she acknowledge that I was gone, but she also let me know she was missing me."
It's no wonder Keith (31) found the simple conversation with his daughter so remarkable since up until a few years ago she couldn't talk - or even communicate.
Often Mia appeared as being in a world of her own, staring at the television and not playing or engaging with others.
"We first noticed something wasn't quite right when she was about 18 months old," he says. "At first we thought maybe she had a hearing problem, but when it was tested her hearing was fine."
Agonising months of trips to see various doctors and hospital consultations followed before the Duffys finally received the devastating news that Mia was autistic.
"I think Lisa was worse than I was at that stage," says Keith. "I was trying to hold it together for her.
"All the hopes and dreams for your child and for their future are suddenly shattered. We wanted a doctor who could help us, but there was no medicine."
Help eventually came, however, in the unexpected form of the manager of The Point Depot in Dublin, a friend from Keith's Boyzone days. He, too, had a child with autism but thanks to special ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) schooling was making remarkable progress.
"We found out all we could, but there was only a limited number of places available," says Keith, who immediately began lobbying and fundraising. Eventually Mia received her place in the ABA school in Dublin.
The reality, he explains, is between his daughter - and so many children like her - surviving in society and getting the best possible chance, or ending up in residential care.
Much of his time and energy is now focused on raising awareness and funds for autistic children, including those in Northern Ireland, as a special ABA unit is now up and running in Tor Bank School in Belfast.
In fact, Keith does a lot of charity work, including for SPEAC (Special Provision for Education for Children with Autistic Children).
"I always get lots of letters from parents in the North as well as the South and awareness is vital," he says.
It's a far cry from his days on the road, when the self-confessed party animal rarely saw his family and, he admits, put his wife in particular through a lot of "c**p".
He explains: "Luckily she stuck by me and we have a great family life now."
He also reveals that when the end did inevitably come for Boyzone, after seven years at the top, he wasn't ready for it - or content to stay at home and play happy families.
"I remember getting a phonecall from my dad while we were touring in Bangkok," he says. "He told me our days were numbered as Lou Walsh was at home in Ireland putting together a new boy band.
"I didn't want it to end. I didn't think we were ready, but Ronan's mum had passed away and he was having a hard time and missing her. He needed some time out.
"Some of the others were ready for a break, too, but I wasn't."
He admits that he knew at the time he was thought of as the least talented member of the group and had no aspirations towards a solo career.
"Lou used to introduce me to people as the one who couldn't sing," he says. "It hurt and he has since apologised for it."
When quizzed further by Kelly about apparent rumours his voice was dubbed over following recordings and that he never actually sang live, Keith is quick to retort: "Oh, I did sing. Not great, but I did sing. I don't know what happened afterwards and as long as the pay cheques came I never asked too many questions."
And it is well documented that it wasn't just Walsh who upset Keith - he had a media tit-for-tat with Ronan and they didn't speak for some time. They have since been reconciled and now have a 'polite' relationship.
"It is never going to be the same as it was," says Keith. "We were all so close and spent so much time together, but that bubble burst when we split up and you can't get that closeness back.
"You shouldn't settle for second best, either. We have moved on and all have different lives. But we didn't do too badly for five young guys from Dublin."
So, Kelly asks the enviable question: is a reunion tour is on the cards?
"Never say never," says Keith, "but for me it would have to be with the six of us - the boys and Lou. It wouldn't be the same if one was missing. We were a team. But there could be a last farewell tour in us all right."
Despite the initial hurt and angst, Keith never really looked back following the disbandment of Boyzone.
And he certainly didn't disappear from public eye for long - television presenting followed, then a few short films. That's how he was 'spotted' and asked to audition for Coronation Street.
"It was amazing," he says. "I got my buzz back right away when I got that job and I loved it.
"I went for three months and stayed for three years. Finally I was doing something I loved again, instead of just thinking about memories for the rest of my life. It was a fantastic experience for me and I really was learning on the job.
"But at the end of the day, it was too hard on family life. My kids were growing up without me. They were crying on Sunday nights when I had to fly back.
"So, when the time came I didn't renew my contract and I am really enjoying more times with Lisa and the kids."
20 April 2006
After Boyzone Keith Duffy forged a successful acting career in Coronation Street. But, as he tells Gerry Kelly, his proudest moment came during a transatlantic telephone conversation with his autistic daughter Mia. He also reveals why his friendship with Ronan Keating will never be the same.
Watching Keith Duffy on the set of Gerry Meets ... he appears much more mature and likeable than the all-singing, all-dancing boyband idol of the early '90s.
It's also clear that he's at his happiest and proudest when talking about his family - wife Lisa and children, Jordan (9) and Mia (6).
In particular he is vocal in his pride in his young daughter, who has autism, and recalls the frustration and heartache he and wife Lisa went through while waiting to have Mia properly diagnosed.
He is especially emotional about the special schooling programme which he says has changed her life.
"I was working in America recently and I phoned home," he tells Gerry. "Mia answered the phone and said 'Hello, who is speaking please?'
"When I told her it was daddy, she told me to come home as she needed me, then she hung up the phone.
"I was so chuffed," he adds, bursting with a father's pride. "Not only did she acknowledge that I was gone, but she also let me know she was missing me."
It's no wonder Keith (31) found the simple conversation with his daughter so remarkable since up until a few years ago she couldn't talk - or even communicate.
Often Mia appeared as being in a world of her own, staring at the television and not playing or engaging with others.
"We first noticed something wasn't quite right when she was about 18 months old," he says. "At first we thought maybe she had a hearing problem, but when it was tested her hearing was fine."
Agonising months of trips to see various doctors and hospital consultations followed before the Duffys finally received the devastating news that Mia was autistic.
"I think Lisa was worse than I was at that stage," says Keith. "I was trying to hold it together for her.
"All the hopes and dreams for your child and for their future are suddenly shattered. We wanted a doctor who could help us, but there was no medicine."
Help eventually came, however, in the unexpected form of the manager of The Point Depot in Dublin, a friend from Keith's Boyzone days. He, too, had a child with autism but thanks to special ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) schooling was making remarkable progress.
"We found out all we could, but there was only a limited number of places available," says Keith, who immediately began lobbying and fundraising. Eventually Mia received her place in the ABA school in Dublin.
The reality, he explains, is between his daughter - and so many children like her - surviving in society and getting the best possible chance, or ending up in residential care.
Much of his time and energy is now focused on raising awareness and funds for autistic children, including those in Northern Ireland, as a special ABA unit is now up and running in Tor Bank School in Belfast.
In fact, Keith does a lot of charity work, including for SPEAC (Special Provision for Education for Children with Autistic Children).
"I always get lots of letters from parents in the North as well as the South and awareness is vital," he says.
It's a far cry from his days on the road, when the self-confessed party animal rarely saw his family and, he admits, put his wife in particular through a lot of "c**p".
He explains: "Luckily she stuck by me and we have a great family life now."
He also reveals that when the end did inevitably come for Boyzone, after seven years at the top, he wasn't ready for it - or content to stay at home and play happy families.
"I remember getting a phonecall from my dad while we were touring in Bangkok," he says. "He told me our days were numbered as Lou Walsh was at home in Ireland putting together a new boy band.
"I didn't want it to end. I didn't think we were ready, but Ronan's mum had passed away and he was having a hard time and missing her. He needed some time out.
"Some of the others were ready for a break, too, but I wasn't."
He admits that he knew at the time he was thought of as the least talented member of the group and had no aspirations towards a solo career.
"Lou used to introduce me to people as the one who couldn't sing," he says. "It hurt and he has since apologised for it."
When quizzed further by Kelly about apparent rumours his voice was dubbed over following recordings and that he never actually sang live, Keith is quick to retort: "Oh, I did sing. Not great, but I did sing. I don't know what happened afterwards and as long as the pay cheques came I never asked too many questions."
And it is well documented that it wasn't just Walsh who upset Keith - he had a media tit-for-tat with Ronan and they didn't speak for some time. They have since been reconciled and now have a 'polite' relationship.
"It is never going to be the same as it was," says Keith. "We were all so close and spent so much time together, but that bubble burst when we split up and you can't get that closeness back.
"You shouldn't settle for second best, either. We have moved on and all have different lives. But we didn't do too badly for five young guys from Dublin."
So, Kelly asks the enviable question: is a reunion tour is on the cards?
"Never say never," says Keith, "but for me it would have to be with the six of us - the boys and Lou. It wouldn't be the same if one was missing. We were a team. But there could be a last farewell tour in us all right."
Despite the initial hurt and angst, Keith never really looked back following the disbandment of Boyzone.
And he certainly didn't disappear from public eye for long - television presenting followed, then a few short films. That's how he was 'spotted' and asked to audition for Coronation Street.
"It was amazing," he says. "I got my buzz back right away when I got that job and I loved it.
"I went for three months and stayed for three years. Finally I was doing something I loved again, instead of just thinking about memories for the rest of my life. It was a fantastic experience for me and I really was learning on the job.
"But at the end of the day, it was too hard on family life. My kids were growing up without me. They were crying on Sunday nights when I had to fly back.
"So, when the time came I didn't renew my contract and I am really enjoying more times with Lisa and the kids."
