Phillip Schofield: Welcome back. Now, since being the runners-up on 'The X Factor' in 2005, G4 have completed four sell-out nationwide tours, published a best-selling autobiography and sold three platinum selling albums.

Fern Britton: So why is a band that's sold in excess of 1.5 million albums about to split? Well, in just a moment the boys are going reveal the reason behind their decision to go their separate ways. But first, let's remind ourselves of the single that propelled them to pop stardom.

(Clip of G4 singing Bohemian Rhapsody)

Fern Britton: Ooooh!

Phillip Schofield: Ahhh, Matt, John, Mike and Ben, all here. Now, why would you want to turn your back on all of that?

Matt Stiff: I think for us it's we've had an amazing three years and we just all decided that we wanted to leave on a high and continue our own solo projects.

Phillip Schofield: But if the papers are to be believed, you're not necessarily leaving on a high, you've been fighting in the back of limousines (the G4 guys laugh)... it's almost become physical and you actually say, "Yes, that is the case, it's been like that."

Jonathan Ansell: We've been arguing. We've been arguing... and it's just so frustrating, I think, to spend so much time with anybody. And we were colleagues at university, we grew in to fantastic friends on 'The X Factor' ...incredible bond we had between us. But there comes a time where that becomes frustrating.

You don't have any new news, you... (argue about) stupid little things, again and again and again, when you're in a car.

Phillip Schofield: Like what? What would've you been arguing about?

Jonathan Ansell: The major things about actually developing and being better as a group... So, silly things like styling really frustrate you if someone's not necessarily ironed a shirt. And it sounds stupid but if you are going on to a TV show and you have something crumpled, it doesn't look quite right, you're letting each other down, or you're... someone hasn't learned a part...

Phillip Schofield: Who doesn't iron a shirt here?

Ben Thapa: I'm really bad. I'm really bad with like ironing and stuff like that. But... I mean, it's just one example. We just all have different priorities in our lives. You know, we came out of college straight on to one of the biggest TV shows in Britain. It was an amazing opportunity for all of us, but you know, I was 22 when I went on that. I'm 25 now and you know, it's getting to a point where you're sit and think "What are you going to do with the rest of your life?"

Phillip Schofield: Be stars.

Ben Thapa: Well... (Laughs)

Phillip Schofield: Spend the money you're making because you're incredibly successful. Million and a half albums. You know? Everything you do seems to be very successful. And there will be people who may be auditioning for the next series of 'X Factor' looking at you thinking, "How could you? !!"

Ben Thapa: But's that the exciting thing. Surely, that if there are people, like, who have the hunger to go on and do it and audition for these things, then why should we if we're sat here kind of getting jaded to it, fighting in amongst ourselves... Why should we be taking the space in the industry for somebody who's hungry to go and achieve that level of success again.

Fern Britton: And when you make this momentous decision, because the niggling...it's like a marriage, nigglings start to come in and then you smooth it over and then something else happens, and it smooths over... The cracks get bigger and you keep gluing them up, but suddenly it's not so pretty as it was because it's starting to look a bit... Then you have to say the words somehow, between yourselves, to say, "I don't want to carry on." Who was the first person to say that?

Mike Christie: It doesn't really work like that, I think it's a gradual process. You just... I think the niggly things aren't important things. What you actually argue about are so trivial. But you just kind of bicker. But it's more time than you spend with someone you're married to and ultimately, when the four of us joined together, you know, we went on 'X Factor' thinking we'd go to one audition and this wouldn't even happen. So we weren't sort of planning to spend all this time together. But erm, going back to the question, I mean, I don't think any of us decided it, it's just something that's sort of happened over a while. And we've all...

Fern Britton: But you had to go together to the management company didn't you...?

Jonathan Ansell: We did.

Fern Britton: ...and say, "It's the end."?

Jonathan Ansell: Mmm, but we're honest the whole time with each other and with management. And as soon as we knew as a consensus as a group (that) we did want to come to an end as a group, we went and met with management, sat down with Ash and Louis and stuff, and talked to them all and we informed them all and...

Phillip Schofield: What did Louis say?

Jonathan Ansell: I mean, they're all... they're shocked and upset but at the same time I think they can understand why we're coming to this. And they want us to finish this on a high, as friends and having left something behind we can all be incredibly proud of. And I think that's what we've done.

Phillip Schofield: But, wouldn't it... couldn't you say "Right, okay, rather than split up with the big publicity" ... and you're here today and we're talking about it, to say, "Right, okay, well let's leave it for a while. We're obviously about to kill each other, (G4 laugh) so that's fair enough, we don't want to do that. We're all mates and we don't want to lose that. But let's sort of have a pause and say 'Right, leave it for a while, go off and do our individual things' and rather than say 'we've split' we'll reconvene if we want to, in a year, if not, we won't." ?

Jonathan Ansell: You never know.

Mike Christie: We've got that option but I think as well, the last three years we haven't had time for anything else. You know, it's just been G4 pretty much every day...

Fern Britton: Yes.

Mike Christie: ...And I think the important thing with splitting up is the fact we can go our separate ways, we can dedicate (to) whatever we want, and it doesn't mean we won't come back together. But we can't imagine...

Phillip Schofield: Then you've got the 'Greatest Hits - Reform' album. They're back together again!

Fern Britton: Oh, yes. Well, the farewell tour is what you're planning at the moment. You go out in May.

G4: Yes.

Fern Britton: Middle of May?

Matt Stiff: 21st.

Fern Britton: 21st of May. And you finish on June 12 so there's a lovely opportunity to go and do that as friends, relaxed, knowing "we're not going to get on each other's nerves any longer".

Matt Stiff: That's why we made the announcement now.

Fern Britton: Yeah.

Matt Stiff: Rather than doing it after the tour. We wanted to give our opportunity to say goodbye to the fans who've supported us for the past 3 years.

Fern Britton: Yeah.

Phillip Schofield: So anyone who's booked the tickets doesn't need to worry?

Matt Stiff: No, no. It's going ahead completely.

Fern Britton: Now, let's talk about what you're going to be doing then?

John, you're going to be going as a solo career?

Jonathan Ansell: I'm hoping to. I'm hoping to. I'm having lots of meetings at the moment. Nothing is set in stone yet, but er, crossed-fingers that all works out for me.

Fern Britton: Mike?

Mike Christie: A few things. I've been writing for many years and like I was saying, we haven't had time for anything else recently.

So, I've started writing an opera already. I write lots of pop songs and I'm starting to write a musical, a West End musical and also do property development.

Fern Britton: Oh!

Mike Christie: I will carry on singing, but for now I want to...

Fern Britton: (Joking) All round smarty-pants.

Mike Christie: Yeah.

Fern Britton: Matt?

Matt Stiff: I'm looking to go in to music lecturing at some form of university

Fern Britton: Fantastic!

Matt Stiff: Using my knowledge and skills and qualifications to teach the next generation of people.

Fern Britton: That you were doing before you all got together. And Ben?

Ben Thapa: I'm moving. I'm moving to Dublin to keep my singing going and take it on. I'm also setting myself up with a classical music agent. That's all coming together. So, I really want to take my singing as far as I can. It's my first love, it's the thing I enjoy doing the most.

Phillip Schofield: Guys...

Fern Britton: Well done guys.

Phillip Schofield: ...thank you for coming in today.

Fern Britton: Thank you.

Phillip Schofield: Good luck with your individual things.

Ben Thapa: Can I just say one final thing? Good luck to all the girls who are doing the marathon on Sunday...

Phillip Schofield: Ah yes!

Ben Thapa: ...because I'm doing it as well, so.

Fern Britton: Good luck to you. We'll see you tomorrow. Bye.