Does Ant from Blue really deserve the stick he's been getting recently? Sugar have got what everyone else has been ignoring - his side of the story...

Being a member of one of pop's biggest boybands should be a dream come true. But fame doesn't come without a price and there's no one more aware of that than the Blue boys. Whether it's rumours about them splitting or tabloid tales about their latest conquests, they always seem to be hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Following his split from fiancee Lucy nine months ago, Antony Costa's personal life has been particuarly under the spotlight. He's been accused of abandonning Lucy and baby Emilie, and turning into a party animal. Then there were the rumours he was having a relationship with Lucy' mate - and David's sister - Joanne Beckham. We gave him a chance to set the record straight...

Ant, what do you think of the way the press portrays the Blue boys?
We're seen as pop's naughty boys but we're just normal lads - people take the papers too seriously. When I split up with my girlfriend, it was my business, but other people have made it theirs. You wouldn't believe the hassle I've had from people I don't know, asking me what happened and why.

How important would you say your image is to you?
To me it really doesn't matter but to others it does. I've been told in a club before that I'm fat and ugly and that no-one would want to go out with me. I put on a brave face but it hurts.

Experiencing a breakup in the spotlight must have been hard too...
Yeah, I just wasn't prepared for the attention. When I split with Lucy, I just thought, OK we've split up, done. She's got my kid, I know that and I'm going to support and do the best for my child.
But all the attention has really aggravated the situation. Now if I go out and have a drink, I'm branded and alcoholic and a bad person. I'm not asking anyone to get the violins out but I can't seem to win.

How did you feel when Lucy told her side of the story to a glossy magazine?
It was horrible. I found it upsetting because it's not like her to do that. But she's a good mum and I can't fault her on that. Anyway, I've got to put our difference aside because all that matters at the end of the day is my daughter, Emilie.

So do you think that as long as children have got both their parents around, it doesn't reallt matter if they're actually together or not?
It's the 21st century, innit? I know loads of people who are single parents but it just so happens that it's me and I'm automatically a bad person. The way its been made out, it's as if I'm not allowed to split up with my girlfriend. Well, why not? Just because I happen to be in a band?

But what about the rumours about you seeing Joanne Beckham?
Let's clear this up. Jo Beckham is one of my best mates. We live near each other and hang out. I actually met her through Lucy. We clicked as soon as we met, but there's nothing going on.
People have seen us out or me giving her a hug and it's been misinterpreted. So now I can't even be friends with a girl anymore. Does that mean if I give one of the lads a hug I'm gay?

How has your new role as a father changed you?
I haven't had the chance for it to change me because I haven't spent enough time with my daughter yet. I've seen her but I haven't been able to spend as much time with her as I'd like. But it has changed me in the sense that I wake up each morning and think, "Oh my God, I've got a daughter!" That's exciting.

Were you scared when you found out that you were going to be a dad?
Yeah! I was so scared when I first found out. The whole time before she was born, I was constantly thinking, "Am I ready to do this?" I questionned myself and doubted my ability to handle the responsibility of supporting a child.

So do you think you've done too much too young?
Yeah, absolutely. I'm in a great band but at the same time I got engaged, I got a kid, I split up with my fiancee... I would never have imagined that I'd be doing all this five years ago. I'm only 23! I've had a lot on my plate recently.

But you have no regrets?
No. If you live with regrets then you're never going to be happy are you? It is going to be hard now to find a girl in the next few years though. But I'll stay single for a bit anyway. It wouldn't be fair to rush into a relationship.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Hopefully still doing what I'm doing. Maybe not with Blue, but doing other things. As long as I'm happy that's all that matters.

Now that Bryan's left Westlife, people are saying that Blue will be next to split up...
Well, they're going to say that aren't they? It's simply because we're the next longest running boyband. But no, we're splitting up - we're still as close as before. Even if we do sometimes feel like the grandads of pop!