After eight years away Irish boy band Boyzone made a welcome return to form with an amazing two-hour stage show at the Arena.

Hot on the heels of other reformed bands from the 90s like Take That and Spice Girls, the boys have hit the gym and beefed up for their Back Again... No Matter What tour that is selling out across the country.

Older and wiser, the 30-something fathers and husbands that were once teen popstars took to the stage as if they had never been away on Wednesday night.

Perhaps now more Manzone than Boyzone, the Dublin-born singers opened to screams from adoring fans as they belted out classic track Picture of You.

The UK come-back tour was obviously a big hit with the fans who have grown up alongside the band - and the raunchy dance moves and semi-naked boys meant the fivesome was able to take their act to the next level.

The high-energy stage show saw Ronan, Stephen, Shane, Mikey and Keith dancing half-naked on treadmills to When The Going Gets Tough, and performing an incredible Michael Jackson medley, that saw Stephen hitting some fantastic notes, and the boys enjoying the chance to sing and dance like the man himself.

Love Me For A Reason was my favourite song from the night as it brought the memories flooding back from when the boys wore dungarees and tight shirts and danced round candles in big disused factories, and A Different Beat had everyone singing and following the dance moves from days gone by.

It was an absolute joy to see each band member getting to sing solo throughout the show - hearing Mikey and Keith singing alone for perhaps the first time was a real treat for a former Boyzone mega-fan, and Stephen even showed off his musical theatre side when he belted out Bright Eyes, and Mikey singing solo and playing the piano (Gary Barlow style) to Words.

And unlike the Spice Girls who banned Geri from the stage to sing songs they had released without her, the boys all came together to sing Ronan's Rollercoaster.

It may have been eight years, but the boys haven't really changed at all.

Stephen still looks 12, Ronan still growls, and Shane got a bit more 'cool', but the boys are still the boys, and there was plenty of support to show the fans were more than happy to have them back.

Reunited, fitter than ever, and so clearly loving every minute, the boys put on a spectacular performance that really was phenomenal.

Receiving a standing ovation throughout, the band was obviously touched that fans had welcomed them back onto the stage after their eight year hiatus with the same enthusiasm they showed them first time round.

The only way the show could have been made better, was if I had been the one chosen to go on stage with the boys. No doubt that lucky girl will have a smile on her face for some time.

Click here to read the review of support act Laura Critchley.