Ronan Keating's seven-month affair with dancer

London (ANI): Ronan Keating's relationship with backing dancer Francine Cornell has been going on for seven months and the singer even considered leaving his wife Yvonne to set up home with her, it has emerged. The Life is a Rollercoaster hitmaker apparently met Francine during last year's Boyzone tour.

According to The Mirror, Francine dumped her long-term boyfriend Nick Robbins in October after she was flooded with text messages from Ronan. Nick's father Royston revealed to the Mirror that his son encouraged Francine to take the job touring with Ronan.

Royston, 66, said: "They had been together for three years. I think they had discussed marriage. He took her all over the world on holidays. She moved into his Chelsea flat and he helped her career. He boosted her confidence and encouraged her to go to auditions. He was really pleased for her when she began working with Ronan."

"The last time I saw her was at a birthday dinner my wife and I attended with Nick and her a few days before they went off to Portugal. It was at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in London. I remember thinking something didn't seem right with Francine. Nick had remarked to me and to his brother Andrew that she was working with Ronan Keating and that she seemed to be always receiving text messages from him."

"He didn't seem to be jealous about it, he just thought there were rather a lot of them. The next thing I heard was that she had told him, in front of all their friends on holiday, that she wanted to end things. It was October 25, Nick's 30th birthday."

Royston added: "I heard she told him she no longer liked their lifestyle. Nick has a lot of friends. Maybe she wanted him to choose between them and her. Nick was really upset. But he wouldn't have a bad word said against her."

Ronan and Yvonne, who have three children, announced their 12-year marriage was over on Thursday, six days after she found a string of flirty text messages on his mobile phone. A source close to the star said: "The affair been going on for about seven months. It has been broken off a couple of times but not for long as he can't stay away from her. He can't hide the fact he fell in love with her. He's obsessed with her - besotted.

"They even talked about moving in together in the UK." A statement on Boyzone's website said: "With great sadness Ronan and Yvonne Keating today announce their separation. The separation is amicable and they will continue to work together in order to provide the best for their children."