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Welsh musical artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rhydian James Roberts (born 14 February 1983), also known mononymously as Rhydian, is a Welsh former baritone singer, television presenter and musical theatre actor. He rose to fame in series 4 of The X Factor (2007), and subsequently became less widely known. Rhydian Roberts retired from performing in February 2023 with a farewell album.[1] He is currently an artist manager at Neil O'Brien Entertainment.[1]
Rhydian Roberts | |
|---|---|
| |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rhydian James Roberts |
| Born | 14 February 1983 Sennybridge, Wales |
| Genres | Musical theatre, classical crossover, opera, Operatic pop, Wagnerian rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musical theatre actor, television presenter |
| Years active | 2007–2023 |
| Labels | Sony, Syco, Conehead |
| Website | www |
Born in Sennybridge, Rhydian attended the Pontsenni Cylch Meithrin in Brecon and then Ysgol y Bannau Welsh medium school. He played rugby union for the Gwernyfed rugby football club as a junior and later for his school, as well as cricket for Powys County Junior teams.[2][3] Following a gap year teaching in a small school in South Africa, Rhydian won a bursary to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire at the University of Central England.[4]
Rhydian has said: "I'm very proud of what I achieved on X Factor.[5] I'm a showman and it gave me the chance to put on a show".[6] Amongst other songs, he sang:
During the live stages of competition, eventually his "trademark white hair and flamboyant dress sense made him an audience favourite."[9] His version of "The Impossible Dream" became the keynote track on his first album.[10]
| Rhydian's performances and results on The X Factor | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Theme | Song | Result |
| Audition | Free choice | "Love to Me" \ "Dancing Queen" | Advanced |
| Bootcamp 1 | "Delilah" | Advanced | |
| Bootcamp 2 | "Let It Be" | Advanced | |
| Judges' houses | Free choice | "Somebody to Love" | Advanced |
| Week 1 | Number Ones | "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" | Safe |
| Week 2 | Film Themes | "The Phantom of the Opera" | Safe |
| Week 3 | Big Band | "Get the Party Started" | Safe |
| Week 4 | 21st Century Classics | "You Raise Me Up" | Safe |
| Week 5 | Disco | "Go West" | Safe |
| Week 6 | Love Songs | "Somewhere" | Safe |
| Week 7 | British Classics | "Somebody to Love" | Safe |
| "I Vow to Thee, My Country" \ "World in Union" | |||
| Week 8: Semi final | Mentor's choice | "Bridge over Troubled Water" | Safe |
| Contestants' choice | "You'll Never Walk Alone" | ||
| Week 9: Final | Christmas Songs | "O Holy Night" | Runner-up |
| Celebrity Duets | "You Raise Me Up" (with Katherine Jenkins) | ||
| Song of the Series | "Somewhere" | ||
| Winner's single | "When You Believe" | ||
In February 2023, Rhydian Roberts announced his retirement from singing and released a final album:
"I’ve enjoyed my career. It's been 15 years since The X Factor, I’ve released eight albums already, and I just wanted to sign off my singing career with a couple of releases. One classical album and then later on in the year I'm doing a Best Of which has all my favourite songs from the pop world, musical theatre, and classical. That’ll be it then – I'm hanging up my recording voice."[1]
Rhydian currently works as an artist manager at Neil O'Brien Entertainment.
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