Five, the iconic 90s boy band, are back together and performing at Brighton's Pride on the Park today. In an exclusive interview, the group—Scott Robinson, Ritchie Neville, Sean Conlon, Abz Love, and J Brown—shared their trademark humor and reflections on their reunion, their friendship with Robbie Williams, and the pressures of early fame.
Reunion Tour Success and TikTok Jokes
The band kicked off their reunion tour in October 2025, and they've been playing to sold-out arenas across the UK, including London's O2. Their chemistry is as strong as ever, with their mischievous streak shining through almost immediately. 'Sorry, Jay's got a fan, and he's fanning up to my balls right now!' Ritchie laughed during the call. 'I tell you, it's a good thing there was no TikTok back in our day, because I can guarantee one of our nutsacks would have made an appearance.' Sean quickly added, 'I'd just like to say my nutsack would have stayed firmly in my trousers, thank you very much.'
This reunion marks the first time all five members have toured together since their split in 2001, which was marred by burnout and bullying allegations. They previously reunited for The Big Reunion in 2013, but without Jay, 50, and later Abz, 47, left the following year, leaving Scott, 46, Ritchie, 46, and Sean, 45, to continue as a trio. So why has it worked this time? 'It just feels like the right time for us,' Abz said. 'We've grown heads on our shoulders now, so we appreciate it all a lot more.' Ritchie added, 'We're older, wiser and more mature. We're a team now, and we work through everything together. We appreciate each other in a way we never did before.'
Robbie Williams' Heart-to-Heart
A pivotal moment came last summer when Robbie Williams reunited all five original members on stage for the first time in 25 years, performing their 1999 chart-topper 'Keep On Movin'' at London's Emirates Stadium. Scott shared, 'We've always been friendly with Robbie. That's carried on to this day. He still video calls us just to check in and make sure we're taking time to appreciate it all. It's amazing having someone like Robbie in your corner. If you're struggling with something, he's always at the end of the phone.'
For Sean, the most memorable part was a private conversation away from the spotlight. 'As well as performing together, it was really important to Robbie that we all had this chat away from the cameras and any industry people. It was just us having a proper heart-to-heart about everything we'd been through. Robbie experienced all of this before we did, probably on an even more extreme level. To have someone who's genuinely lived it and can reassure you, that meant a lot.'
Pressure of Fame and Youth
Life in a 90s boy band came with immense pressure, especially for the youngest members. Sean was only 16 when he signed, while the oldest, J, was just 21. Ritchie, who has an 11-year-old daughter showing signs of performing, expressed his reservations. 'I've got an 11-year-old daughter, and she's showing signs of being a performer. But in my heart, having lived this experience, I wouldn't want her to do it till she's at least in her mid-twenties. And there's a real value to someone older. They've got more to say, more life experience. I'm not saying there isn't a place for young performers, but I'm glad to see older stars proving just how good they still are on stage too.'
The nostalgia boom is also seeing Take That reunite for a revival of their Circus Live tour, but with Gary Barlow, 55, admitting his age limits his performance, Five are happy to step up. 'We bumped into the Take That guys while we were rehearsing for our show, and Gary told us the tour had really taken a physical toll,' Sean said. 'We were like, “Oh really, Gaz? Because we're all fit as a fiddle!”'
Fan Energy and 'Bad Boy' Image
Five fans remain as energetic as ever. 'Five fans have always had that energy and been a little bit madder than your average pop fan,' Sean laughed. 'I think that's probably because we're a little bit madder than your average band. We're at the right age where we're not too old, and the fans aren't too old, and we've all still got that bit of youthful energy in us.'
Unlike Westlife, who were marketed with a wholesome image, Five's 'bad boy' reputation gave them more freedom. 'I think we were just normal lads,' Ritchie said. 'The thing is, Westlife were normal lads too. But they were sort of cajoled into pretending they weren't. They used to say in interviews that they were virgins, that they didn't have girlfriends, that they didn't drink. There was a lot of pressure on them. But our management were happy for us to just be ourselves.'
There was a brief feud when Westlife entered the scene a year after Five's debut, but it quickly fizzled. 'The first few months after they came out, we had a little issue,' Ritchie admitted. 'It was nothing really and once we actually spent time together, we got over it very quickly.'
Wild Nights and Oasis
Five's legendary nights out include a surreal encounter with Liam Gallagher in 2001 that ended with a game of Bop It! 'That was a funny night,' J laughed. 'It was in Brazil. We met Liam and got invited up to his room. He then asked us if we fancied a game of Bop It! Not the most rock and roll.' Scott added, 'He was rubbish at it too!'
When asked who would win in a fight between Five and Oasis, Scott joked, 'Well, there's five of us and only two of them. We'd smash 'em up!'
Looking Ahead
As they head into a packed schedule of summer festivals, the band is savoring every moment. 'We didn't realise quite how much our music affected people, and it's been really lovely to get back with the boys, all five of us, in the place where we're meant to be, and enjoying every single moment,' Scott said.
Tickets for Brighton Pride are on sale now, starting at £75 for one day to £154 for the full weekend, with VIP tickets also available.
