Five working-class lads from Dublin are plucked from obscurity and given the chance of a lifetime: to form one of the world’s most successful and iconic boybands. After a rocky start, their popularity grows and they’re soon travelling the world in pursuit of fame and fortune. But behind-the-scenes, bitter rifts threaten to divide the band as personal insecurities are exploited. Manager Louis Walsh sets about ruthlessly manipulating the press, as a secret about one of the members’ sexuality surfaces, with devastating ramifications.

The band’s unprecedented success continues as they land their first number one single. But as their popularity soars, so too does the relentless pursuit of the tabloids. The pressures of constant scrutiny weigh heavily on all members, but Stephen Gately feels it most intensely. When The Sun receives a tip-off that Stephen is dating Dutch popstar Eloy de Jong, Stephen finds himself at the heart of a media frenzy. For the first time, we hear from all sides, revealing how Stephen’s sexuality was exposed and the personal toll it took. Meanwhile, Ronan faces pressure from manager Louis Walsh to pursue solo projects, igniting tensions that threaten the band’s unity.