This article tells the story of Rik Waller, a singer who rose to fame on the reality show Pop Idol. It details his early success, his struggles with laryngitis, his chart-topping single, and his subsequent career in reality TV and music
Pop Idol was one of the biggest TV hits of the early 2000s, and despite only running for two series, the show spawned the careers of Gareth Gates and Will Young. However, it also made a star of Kent-born singer Rik Waller , who was tipped to win the first series of the singing reality show. In 2001, the then 20-year-old impressed judges Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox with an impressive vocal performance and successfully made it into the final ten.
However, the singer was forced to pull out of the show prematurely after suffering from laryngitis. Despite this, he did find chart success with his cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, which reached number six in the UK singles chart. He signed a record deal with EMI, believed to be worth around £400,000, and subsequently released a cover of Something Inside (So Strong). Rik, now 43, then landed roles on various UK-based reality shows, including a stint on Celebrity Fit Club. Around this time, he was dropped by his record label, EMI and formed a band that signed with Red Admiral Records. However, following poor ticket sales they cancelled a planned tour and parted ways. February 2007 is the last time Rik was seen on TV with an appearance on Never Mind The Buzzcocks. It was since rumoured that he had suffered the loss of his ability to sing having damaged his voice. In 2007, he said: 'I’m getting tired of singing and I can’t rely on it for 100 per cent of my income. I’ve got two people to think about now, and talent doesn’t always pay the bills.' At the time, he was in a relationship with a Pagan woman, and the couple were said to be planning a Pagan wedding ceremony. However, the relationship ended, and rumours circulated that she had encouraged Rik to stop performin
Pop Idol Rik Waller Reality TV Music Singer
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