News of The World- March 2001

By RAV SINGH

CHART-TOPPING Hear'say pin-up Noel Sullivan has palled up with Boyzone star Stephen Gately- to help him deal with the pressure of fame.

The gay Irish pop idol has been a shoulder to lean on for the 20 year old rising star who is still coming to terms with being in the public eye.

Stephen and Noel share the same record label, Polydor, and the word there is that they've become really good mates.

A Polydor source told me: "Everything has been getting on top of Noel since the band formed. Then, a few weeks ago, he met Stephen- and the two of them got on like a house on fire.

"Noel has turned to Stephen because he's been through it all himself and he feels comfortable with him.

"Stephen has been in the public gaze since Boyzone were formed seven years ago and is well qualified to give Noel some really good advice. Also, three years ago he bit the bullet and came out and told the world that he was gay and that he had a long-term boyfriend."

And I was the journalist called in by the singer to tell the fans his big secret.

The brave boyband idol had decided that the time was finally right, after hiding his sexuality for so many years. Stephen recently spoke about how happy he is with his boyfriend, Eloy de Jong, and the couple even plan to adopt a child next year.

Noel has become a household name in the past few months after auditioning for the ITV show Popstars. He was one of the lucky five to get to the final and form the new band, Hear'say.

Last week, the band entered the Guiness Book of Records for the fastest-ever selling debut single, Pure and Simple.

The source added: "Noel's life will never be the same again- just like Stephen's."

"Let's just hope Noel come out of this period unscathed."