Stephen Gately is undoubtedly the most famous Irish singer to have played an animated rabbit. We asked him down in the Elstree rabbit-warren to answer your questions. . .

Stephen Gately- Hello to everybody who's logged on. I'm going to be answering as many questions as I can. Sorry if I don't answer all of them, but time is scarce and I've got to rush off to my next gig!

Ali Bing- What do you think about the poor girls who sit waiting at airports and outside in the freezing cold for you every day? Do you feel bad about rushing past them when you're in a rush?

Stephen Gately- I feel sorry for them, spending that amount of time outside. If I have to rush, it's not my fault, but generally I do chat to the majority of fans outside airports, hotels etc. I'm friendly, I'm alright!

Cyneth- Where do you get your influences from to create your songs?

Stephen Gately- I get influenced by every day life. Just what happens. I don't want to put too much personal stuff, so I just write about what happens to people in general. The new single, I Believe, is basically about following your dreams, achieving your goals and believing in yourself. So it's for anybody really.

Jeremy- Hey Stephen! Who were your role models when growing up?

Stephen Gately- I didn't have role models growing up. I admire people for what they did, and certain styles of music. If I like a song, I like the song; if I like a movie, I like the movie.

Kate Hewson- All the reviews of Billy Elliot say that it's really good. Honestly, truthfully, is that good and, if so, why?

Stephen Gately- It's a fantastic story, a fantastic movie. It's just not what people are going to expect. It's about ballet, but at the same time, there's another background story. It's sad, happy, with funny moments, and I loved it. Absolutely loved it.

Phian- Did you think New Beginning was going to be such a big hit?

Stephen Gately- I hoped, and I'm very pleased by how well it did. I'll be lying if I said I wouldn't love a number 1. Who knows with the new single? As long as it gets to the Top 10 I'll be happy.

Phoebe A- Is it true you wrote a song for Westlife, and if so what was it called?

Stephen Gately- I wrote a song for them called 'Where Do We Go', and they had such a big selection for their album that I decided to keep it myself for my album.

Fiona- If you were given a choice between the cameo role in the Harry Potter film (which we all hope you get) or a part in a West End musical, which would you choose?

Stephen Gately- Difficult question. I'd love to do the Harry Potter cameo. I don't know if it'll happen. I've asked and asked and asked and asked. It's going to be big, and so I'd love to get involved.

Sham Danesh- What's the sweetest thing Eloy's ever done for you?

Stephen Gately- He's done so many sweet things. He just turns up out of the blue sometimes when I'm at work, at a hotel. He does all sorts of things. He's a very romantic guy. Sweet all the time- well, nearly!

Robert O'Connor- Do you like Boyzone or do you fall out sometimes?

Stephen Gately- No, I like Boyzone! We have an argument every now and again, but we never fall out, otherwise we wouldn't be together. We can't afford to have arguments. And Boyzone have NOT split up!

Ronan Keating- Stephen it's me Ronan! How are you doing? I think Boyzone should stop doing records now I am more famous!

Stephen Gately- Sorry- Ronan's in Taiwan at the moment and I doubt he'd be on the Internet at 3am!

Rosemary and Hayley Mitchell- Can you describe your boat and have you named it yet?

Stephen Gately- It's a boat that fits 6 people. It's just a nice, small boat hat gets me from a to b when I want to go in the canal or out on the lake. It's made of aluminium- light and strong. It's very good! I'm still waiting for my proper boat off Ronan! He said he'd get me one for my birthday 3 or 4 years ago!

Hilary Taylor- Hi Stephen, how are you? What happens to all the songs you write that don't make a single or an album? Do you bin them?

Stephen Gately- No, generally they'll be kept for b-sides.

Hayley Mtchell- You wear some very cool clothes for your promotion- do you keep any of them?

Stephen Gately- All of them! It's only clothes that I like that I keep. I've got a stylist, and if I like them I'll wear them, if I don't, they'll exchange them for something else.

Vicky Kell- If you could be any animal for one day what would you choose and why?

Stephen Gately- A dolphin, so that I could swim down to the bottom of the sea and see what's there. Maybe I'd find the lost city of Atlantis!

Karen- Would you like BZ to keep going for as long as bands like the Bee Gees?

Stephen Gately- If possible, yeah. You never know, it could happen. I'm in the process of writing songs for other people.

Natasha Brown- Since coming out in the open about your sexuality, what have you found any differences to the way people approach you who were your friends before? I helped a friend go through it and he was really scared and I offered him a shoulder to cry on if it was needed. What would your advice be to people who want to come out about their sexuality be?

Stephen Gately- Do it in your own time. Do it for your own sake, not anyone else's. And don't worry if people don't accept you for who you are. If they don't, it doesn't really matter. As long as you've got your friends and family around you, you'll survive.

Jennifer Boyle- Would you ever consider writing a book like Ronan?

Stephen Gately- I am going to write a book which will probably shock a lot of people. It'll be very funny and just very true about how I grew up and where I am now.

Claire- If you had to be a vegetable, what would you be? (I'd be a pea by the way!) :)

Stephen Gately- Brussels Sprout- I'd live a bit longer cos nobody likes them!

Laura- Has Emma Bunton got back to you yet on the duet you've got planned?

Stephen Gately- Still waiting for an answer from her. I sent a song over, a very good song. If she doesn't do it, I'll do it myself or give it to someone else. Fingers crossed she'll call me back.

Paul Johnson- are you following the Olympics? if so whats your favorite

event?

Stephen Gately- I like the Olympics and I like watching the swimming and

gymnastics, which is really good. I feel sorry for the girl who got her

gold taken away from her because she took a cold remedy.

Ash- I know you're busy! But is there an official web site for you

Stephen?

Stephen Gately- Yes, there is: http://www.stephengately.com

Emma Davies- where do you get your sense of humor from yr

mother/father?

Stephen Gately- I don't know. I guess you just create your own as you

grow up. It depends on how you grow up and what's around you. But it's

important to laugh at yourself, not take yourself too seriously!

carolena b- do you share Shane's and Ronans opinions about Ireand that

we begrudge famous people?

Stephen Gately- Not really. Irish fans can be a bit more forceful in

getting your autograph and pictures - like one granny would ask you for 15

autographs for her grandchildren all at once!

Rebecca Harwood- What do you think about still being called Boyzone now

that you seem to have grown up alot?

Stephen Gately- There are lots of bands with boy in the name. Beach

Boys, Beastie Boys, Backstreet Boys, Waterboys, Boyz II Men. So it's fine!

Chris Hughes- Robbie Williams has recently released a video where he

isn't wearing anything! Would you ever consider doing the same either on

video or at concert (sorry, it had to be asked!)?

Stephen Gately- Not unless I was being paid a LOT of money. It would

have to be a six figure sum!

Rob Leigh- Christmas is only round the corner. What would you like most?

Stephen Gately- Maybe some time off. Couple of weeks! I love Christmas,

so if I have people I love around me, that's the main thing. I prefer giving

presents than getting presents.

Claire Murley- Would you ever consider doing a duet with Eloy (Sonny and

Cher style)?

Stephen Gately- No! Not Sonny and Cher style, no thank you! I wouldn't

do a sloppy Kylie and Jason ballad. It would have to be an uptempo pop song,

more Kylie and Robbie...

Sas Howell- Hi this is Sas how do we know u r really stephen Gately?

Stephen Gately- Look at the webcam! I'm waving now! You'll just have to

trust me. If not, why are you here anyway?!

James Anderson- My sister loves Brussel Sprouts so watch your back! What

are you doing next: a BZ single or a solo?

Stephen Gately- Solo single. Just in case you didn't know, the new

single's out on the 2nd October.

Gemma Keating- whats your fav number?

Stephen Gately- My favourite number is seven or three. I don't have a

lucky number - I'm not very supersticious!

Ally Mcbeal- What is your favourite type of chocolate bar?

Stephen Gately- Kinder Bueno!

Werner Strydom- Are you involved with any charities?

Stephen Gately- I do a lot for breast cancer and for children's

charities. I recently donated bits and pieces for a breast cancer campaign that's

going on. And I'd adopted two dolphins, and I've got lots of stars named

after me!

Pamela M- what song do you have in your head at the moment?

Stephen Gately- Pink - Most Girls. Great song.

Sara Ellis- what advice would u give to up and coming talent?

Stephen Gately- One piece of advice that I've always been given is be

nice to people on the way up, because you may meet them again on the way down!

Zoe Newton- is it true that your brother Tony might be playing you in

the BOYZONE movie?

Stephen Gately- He's 18 and we look alike, so more than likely, if it

goes ahead, yeah. There's a script in progress. We want people to capture

our Boyzone sense of humour. There are a lot of major film companies

interested in doing it.

Gillian M- Do you still enjoy reading spritual books?

Stephen Gately- Yes. I was doing a bit of meditation before I did a TV

show today. I got this new CD from India with healing music on it, which was

very nice actually.

Jemma Handley- How did you keep your chin up throughout all the

controversy that surrounded you a few months back? That is an admirable quality!

Stephen Gately- It's the support of fans and the media that helps. It's

all been good, so when there's a good reaction, you keep your chin up.

Mrs X- Is it true that you're adopting a child? Is so, is it a boy or

girl or doesn't it matter?

Stephen Gately- I would love to adopt a child. But that will be in the

future. At the moment I have two dogs, and they are hard to take care

of, because I am away so often. It doesn't matter whether the child is

black or white or a boy or a girl. I just want to give it a lot of love and

opportunities in life.

Kathryn Dowd- Does any of the stuff Louis Walsh says annoy you - because

it hasn't always been nice things about you?

Stephen Gately- Louis is Louis. I get on well with him, so any bad criticism

just goes over my head. I just be the person I am and do the best that

I can. If people don't like what I do, no hard feelings.

Peter Heywood- do u go on the internet alot?

Stephen Gately- Sometimes I do, just to check out oprah.com and stuff

like that! And my own site - http://www.stephengately.com !

Natalia Boreanaz- Stand up so that we can see what you're wearing! I

love these web cam things!

Stephen Gately- Okay, I'll stand up! Today I'm modelling a Helmut Lang

jacket, a Calvin Klein T-shirt, Diesel Jeans and Malborough Classics.

And Calvin Klein underwear - well, none actually!

Shiri Harari- ARE YOU MOVING FROM IRELAND?

Stephen Gately- No. I will always have a base in Ireland. I'm waiting

for the right apartment to come up.

Stewart Crout- STAR WARS? OR STAR TREK??

Stephen Gately- I'm a bit in the middle there! I'm a very big Trekkie

fan, and I've got a massive picture of the cast of Star Trek, the Next

Generation, with Patrick Stewart. It's signed by the whole cast, which

is really cool. They're not wearing the costumes, and it's really cool! I

liked Phantom Menace!

Ann Griggs- What was your favourite subject in school?

Stephen Gately- Science. I got an 'A' in Biology. So I know everything

about the body(!)

Vicky Mills- Do you speak any dutch?

Stephen Gately- Yes, a little bit. I can understand a lot more than I

can speak!

Rob Leigh- What was the nicest thing that anyone has said to you?

Stephen Gately- That's really difficult. I have had lots of nice things

said about me. So I can't really answer that. But thanks for your question!

Karen- Have your nails disappeared again with the upcoming release of I

Believe?!?

Stephen Gately- I've got very strong nails, and if I bite them they grow

back in a couple of days!

David Bennett- Stephen do you like the name Stephen or did you ever

wished you had been called something different?

Stephen Gately- I'm easy with my name, I don't mind it. Originally I was

going to be called Patrick because I was born on St Patrick's Day, so I

feel lucky - sorry to any Patricks out there! But my second name is Patrick.

I've gotta go. I just want to say thank you very much for all your

questions. I'm sorry I couldn't answer all of them, but come on, you

know a lot about me anyway! Bye!