Rik Waller was one of the breakout stars of the first series of Pop Idol in 2001, but his singing career came to a standstill after he left the show and he is now unrecognisable
Pop Idol, one of the early noughties’ biggest telly sensations, only ran for two series but launched the careers of Gareth Gates and Will Young as well as Michelle McManus. It also catapulted Kent-born crooner Rik Waller to fame, who was a hot favourite to win the inaugural series of the reality singing competition. Back in 2001, a then 20 year old Rik wowed judges Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox with his stellar vocal prowess, securing a spot in the final ten. However, the singer’s journey was cut short due to a bout of laryngitis.
Despite his premature exit, he did enjoy some chart success with his rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, which climbed to number six in the UK singles chart. He signed a record deal with EMI, rumoured to be worth around £400,000, and went on to release a cover of Something Inside (So Strong).
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Now 44, Rik bagged roles on various UK 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, after disappointing ticket sales, they scrapped a planned tour and split up. The last time Rik graced our screens was in February 2007, with an appearance on Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
It was rumoured that the singer had lost his ability to belt out tunes after damaging his voice, leading him to confide in 2007: “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.”
Amidst a whirlwind romance, he found love with a Pagan woman and the pair were reportedly sketching out plans for a Pagan wedding ceremony. But their union came to an end amid whispers she had influenced Rik’s decision to step away from the limelight. In 2019 he went on to say he was ‘gutted’ that his fellow Pop Idol contestant, Michelle McManus, was married, writing on Facebook: “Gutted that Michelle McManus is married, but she looked gorgeous and wishing her all the best.”
In a candid 2013 chat with the Daily Mail, Rik laid bare the harsh reality of job-seeking as he recounted: “The most demoralising thing I’ve ever had to do was queue up at the Job Centre and have people look at me saying, ‘What a failure’.
“When you’ve lost the ability to do the job you’ve always done, it’s an incredible stab in the back to find people are actually laughing at you.”
Rik bared his soul as he continued: “It’s why I don’t make a lot of effort to talk to the press these days – it can be more trouble than it’s worth.”
He admitted, finding solace in simpler joys: “If you’ve got a roof over your head and food on the table I don’t know how anyone can be truly unhappy.”
By 2014, the chart-topping days were a distant memory as Rik returned to his roots, moving back in with the folks. There, he secured a gig as a secondary school exam invigilator under his birth name, Richard, while also dabbling in the disco beats of his Dad’s mobile karaoke and disco venture.
According to his Facebook page, the former singer is still an exam invigilator and lives in Leicester.
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