For his self-*led album, see Rhydian (album).

Musical artist

Rhydian James Roberts (born 14 February 1983), also known mononymously as Rhydian, is a Welsh baritone singer, television presenter and musical theatre actor. He made his name by finishing second in series 4 of The X Factor, and has since become more widely known.

Contents

• 1 Early years
• 2 Career
  • 2.1 Concerts, galas and solo tours
  • 2.2 Stage
  • 2.3 Recordings
  • 2.4 Television
  • 2.5 The X Factor
• 3 Discography
• 4 References
• 5 External links

Early years

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. 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.

Career

Concerts, galas and solo tours

Rhydian toured the UK in 2008, 2013 and 2014–15. The *le of his third tour "One Day Like This", came from his fifth album. During 2018 he toured the UK in Les Musicals, co-starring with Jonathan Ansell.

Stage

Rhydian made his debut in the 2010 European tour of The War of the Worlds – Live on Stage! (Parson Nathaniel), and has toured the UK in musical theatre since then. From 2010 to 2013 he appeared in We Will Rock You (Khashoggi, Chief of Police), Grease (40th anniversary tour, playing "Teen Angel") and Rocky Horror Show (Rocky). He has played pantomime leads in Beauty and the Beast, praised for carrying the show "rather spectacularly" with "remarkable gravitas", and Cinderella.In 2015 he played Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar and in 2016 the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors. During Christmas 2017 he appeared in Aladdin at the SSE Arena, Belfast.

Recordings

2008's highest-selling album by a male newcomer (600,000 copies), was Rhydian's eponymous debut, Rhydian. It incorporated material by Jim Steinman His second, O Fortuna (2009), co-produced by composer Karl Jenkins, included duets with Kiri te Kanawa and Bryn Terfel. Rhydian was a guest on Morriston Orpheus Choir's CD To Where You Are (Sain, 2011). There were two further albums during 2011: Waves, with covers of cl*ic 1980s pop and Caneuon Cymraeg (Welsh Songs), a mix of cl*ic Welsh songs and original songs.

Returning to his core repertoire of cl*ics and pop anthems, Rhydian's fifth album, One Day Like This featured duets with Kerry Ellis and Bonnie Tyler. Within a week of release, it topped the Official Cl*ical Album charts, occupying the spot for ten weeks. It also reached 19 in the Official Album charts, and topped the Cl*ic FM Chart.

His sixth album, The Long Road, was released in 2018 and added to Spotify in 2020.

Television

During 2009, Rhydian, One Year On was aired by S4C. In 2011, Rhydian presented an eight-part television entertainment series for S4C, with his album Caneuon Cymraeg (Welsh Songs) being released to tie in with it.

The X Factor

Rhydian has said: "I'm very proud of what I achieved on X Factor. I'm a showman and it gave me the chance to put on a show". Amongst other songs, he sang:

• A full theatrical account of "The Phantom of the Opera"
• "Get the Party Started"
• "Go West"

During the live stages of compe*ion, eventually his "trademark white hair and flamboyant dress sense made him an audience favourite." His version of "The Impossible Dream" became the keynote track on his first album.

Discography

Main article: Rhydian Roberts discography

References

External links

• Official website
• Rhydian Roberts at BBC Wales
• Rhydian Roberts biography from BBC Wales Music
• What's On Wales interview
• "Rhydian's new album" movie video at YouTube
• Rhydian on Premier Christian TV

Hosts

• Kate Thornton
• Dermot O'Leary
• Caroline Flack
• Olly Murs

Judges

• Simon Cowell
• Sharon Osbourne
• Louis Walsh
• Dannii Minogue
• Cheryl
• Gary Barlow
• Kelly Rowland
• Tulisa
• Nicole Scherzinger
• Mel B
• Nick Grimshaw
• Rita Ora
• Ayda Field
• Louis Tomlinson
• Robbie Williams

Guest Judges

• Paula Abdul
• Brian Friedman
• Geri Halliwell
• Natalie Imbruglia
• Katy Perry
• Pixie Lott
• Nicole Scherzinger
• Alexandra Burke
• Leona Lewis
• Rita Ora
• Mel B
• Anastacia
• Tulisa
• Alesha Dixon
• Nile Rodgers

WinnersOther contestantsSinglesRelated articles

• The X Factor franchise
• The Xtra Factor
• I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical
• X Factor Around the World
• "Killing in the Name"