By J J Anisiobi
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Money matters: Singer Antony Costa, pictured in 2012, was near bankrupt and left homeless after Blue split up in 2004
At his peak Antony Costa was adored by millions of fans and was living the dream as a millionaire pop star.
However, when boy band Blue agreed to split up in 2004, he quickly ran out of money and was left near bankrupt.
Antony, 31, went from earning £250,000 a month while on tour to existing on just £45 per week with no roof over his head.
Speaking to exclusively to Mail Online the singer-songwriter said: 'It was a odd process. I went from earning £250,000 a month on a tour to £400 a month acting in Blood Brothers.Â
'I wasn't saving any of my money along the way and I had champagne taste with lemonade money in the end. I thought Blue was going to last forever and any money I did have left at the end of Blue I wasn't advised on how to save it but I don't blame anyone for that.'
With his bank balance dwindling much faster than it was coming in the learning curve f or Costa was a very steep one.
Antony lived the showbusiness lifestyle and had a mortgage on a big house in the countryside that cost him £7,000 a month without bills, but that was all taken away from him when he faced financial troubles.
Becoming homeless left him with no other option than to move back in with his parents, and he also spent nights sleeping on friends' sofas.
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The boys are back: Blue have now reunited, but for the last two years Antony had been living on just £45 per week
Antony told Mail Online: 'I lived with my mum and dad a bit at home then when I worked at Blood Brothers I couldn't afford to get home so I stayed with my mate on his sofa.Â
Despite having a close relationship with Duncan James, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe, Antony felt unable to turn to them.
'I didn't want to bother the boys as they had their own stuff going on and it was my business, I got myself into it and wanted to get myself out.
'You have to stand on your own two feet in life no matter how tough it gets. I am not really one to ask others for help no matter what is going on, perhaps that is a weakness or just my pride but I prefer to see it as strength.'
Hard times: Finding himself homeless Antony crashed on a friends sofa and also lived with his parents for a while
Since facing his darkest days Antony has managed to get his life back on track.
For the last two years, while Blue were recording their new album Roulette, he has been living on a individual voluntary arrangement of £45 per week.
He said: 'We have got a good team around us today who help me and the boys out with financial advice and direction and who make up part of our great management team.Â
'We are now properly advised and we know where every penny is going, so this time around everything is clearer and makes more sense than ten years ago.'
Brothers in arms: Antony felt her couldn't turn to his band mates, from left, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Simon Webbe
The new album, which is out on 29 April, coincides with their appearance on ITV2's The Big Reunion.
All of the boys are happy to be a part of the programme and Antony feels they are more than ready to release new material.
He told Mail Online: 'Blue have been working at this for the last two years writing and recording our new album with the Red One team in Los Angeles and Wayne Hector in London.
'It's great to be part of this big show and perform in front of all those people and we have had a lot of fun with it but it was a hard secret to keep the last few months, knowing we would be part of it but not being able to tell our fans.'
'We are so grateful for this opportunity and thank everyone on the team at ITV and can't wait to get the new album out at home. Our first studio album in ten years - it's a proud moment for us and we believe it's our best album yet.'
Tickets for their exclusive one-off gig at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on 3 May are available via Ticketmaster.
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