Ronan Keating has said he’d jump at the chance to become the next judge on the UK version of The X Factor after completing his long stint on the Australian branch of the show.

The Boyzone star, 38, spent five years on the panel of the Aussie series, which has now recruited singer James Blunt.

“I had five great years on X Factor Australia,” Ronan said. “James Blunt is on the panel this year, he’s an asset, a good lad.”

And he said of the prospect of joining Simon Cowell on the UK show, by filling the seat vacated by his former manager Louis Walsh: “I would be tempted by it, I don’t think they’d take me. I’d be tempted by it for sure.”

Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell (Anthony Devlin/PA)

The star currently has other things on his mind though – getting to work for 5.30am to begin hosting a radio show for Magic, a new solo album, and marriage to his fiancee Storm Uechtritz later this year.

The Irish singer hinted that the couple could have children together.

“We’re considering it,” Ronan, who has three children with ex-wife Yvonne Connolly, said.

“We’re planning away,” he said of the wedding. “It’s very exciting. It’s a mammoth task, I had no idea!

Ronan Keating and Storm Uechtritz
Ronan Keating and Storm Uechtritz (Jonathan Short/AP)

“But it’s all going well. I am very much involved (in the plans) but I’m not as much as Storm. She’s knows what she’s doing. She’s great with all that kind of organising.”

Louis recently said that he thought it was time for Boyzone – the band he once managed – to call it a day, but Ronan said he wouldn’t be hitting back at the former X Factor judge.

“We love each other really, deep down. I’m not one to speak ill of people like that… Up and onwards,” he said.

Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Ronan, who has been in New York writing his new solo album, said he could struggle with the early mornings for his week-long stint on Magic’s breakfast show. “I have to be in for 5.30am every morning (it starts at 6am). At the moment my rising time is 11.30 or 12 because I’ve been in America, I’m jet-lagged,” he said.

“I’m going to have to start getting up very early soon because I don’t want it to be a shock on Monday morning.

“I’ve never done a live show like this before… I love the music so I can play songs that I feel genuinely good about.”

He said that his new solo album would have a “pop-folk” feel. “I want to concentrate on my music. After five years on the panel and spending so much time in Australia, other things get sacrificed. For me it’s time to concentrate on my album now.”

Ronan Keating joins Magic radio to present its Magic In the Morning Breakfast Show from June 15 to 19.