McFadden claims Katona wedding 'was showbiz sham'

The ex-Westlife star, 26, said the pair spent their first night as man and wife apart after their lavish 2002 reception in an Irish castle.

He said Katona, also 26, wanted a divorce as much as he did when they split two years after their wedding ceremony, which had been snapped up by Hello! magazine.

He said of his big day with Katona, who also slept alone after tying the knot with second husband Mark Croft because of a blazing row: "It wasn't a real wedding. We were getting married to have a big party and get loads of money for it - and to appear showbiz.

"The day my marriage ended was on the stag night (when he cheated on Katona with a lap dancer). That was the time I felt 'this is not supposed to be'."

McFadden, now with Australian star Delta Goodrem, 22, told Reveal magazine: "At first, I denied the lapdancer thing, but then I was taken to court for calling her a liar.

"Me and Kerry didn't even see each other on our wedding night.

"If we hadn't had kids, the marriage wouldn't have lasted as long as it did.

"I was too young to understand what having kids meant. Having a child was like getting a dog."

McFadden said the split was a mutual decision, telling the magazine: "Kerry had taken the kids and was living with her mum. I was in New York and she phoned me and asked 'Don't you love me any more?'

"I said: 'Not like I did at the start.' She said: 'Neither do I. We have to end it.'

"I left it at that, then got another call saying 'I'm having a press conference to say we're separating. I want to move on with my life.'

"I felt relieved, although I felt sad for the children.

"After the press conference she phoned again and said 'I'm having nothing to do with this, you're the one leaving me. I don't want to break up.'

"I said 'Are we getting back together?' And she said 'No.'

"Then it spiralled out of control. All of a sudden it was: 'He didn't love me any more, and wants to break up.'

"I don't talk to her now. But if I had to, I'd only do it for the sake of the kids."

The father of Katona's two eldest daughters Molly, five, and Lily Sue, four, said: "My private life became as artificial as my pop life in Westlife, but I couldn't see it at the time.

"We became a showbiz couple, and everyone was talking about us. That swept me off my feet.

"After we had the first baby, bought a house and spent time together, I woke up one morning and realised 'this is not what I want to do with my life. We don't have anything in common'."

I'm a Celebrity... star Katona said McFadden dumped her by telephone.

She tied the knot with new husband Croft, 35, at a low-key ceremony in Gretna Green on Valentine's Day.

Heidi Elizabeth, their first baby together, was born by Caesarean section last month.

Katona recently said: "I want it to work so badly and I don't want it to end. I hope to God this lasts, another divorce would kill me."