Rhydian James Roberts (born 14 February 1983), also known mononymously as Rhydian, is a Welsh baritone singer, television presenter and musical theatre actor. He rose to fame in series 4 of The X Factor (2007). Rhydian Roberts retired from performing in February 2023 with a farewell album, with a final Greatest Hits album to follow in February 2025.[1] He is currently an artist manager at Neil O'Brien Entertainment.[1]
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
2008's highest-selling album by a male newcomer (600,000 copies), was Rhydian's eponymous debut, Rhydian. It incorporated material by Jim Steinman[11][12]
There were two further albums during 2011: Waves, with covers of classic 1980s pop[15][6] and Caneuon Cymraeg (Welsh Songs), a mix of classic Welsh songs and original songs.
Returning to his core repertoire of classics and pop anthems, Rhydian's fifth album, One Day Like This featured duets with Kerry Ellis and Bonnie Tyler.[16] Within a week of release, it topped the Official Classical Album Chart, occupying the spot for ten weeks. It also reached 19 in the UK Albums Chart,[17] and topped the Classic FM Chart.[17]
In 2015, he released Carry the Fire, an album inspired by the Rugby World Cup 2015. It included his version of "World In Union" - which was the official song of the Rugby World Cup - and songs related to all of the Home Nations.[18]
Rhydian's eighth album was released in February 2023, and became his second album to top the UK Classical Albums Chart (after One Day Like This).[19] He has announced it will be his final studio album, before ending his recording career with a Greatest Hits album later in the year.[20]
Concerts, galas and solo tours
Rhydian toured the UK in 2008, 2013 and 2014–15. His third tour was names after his fifth record album, "One Day Like This".[21]
During 2018 he toured the UK in Les Musicals, co-starring with Jonathan Ansell.[22]
Stage
Rhydian made his debut in the 2010 European tour of The War of the Worlds – Live on Stage! (Parson Nathaniel),[23]
He then toured the UK in musical theatre. From 2010 to 2013 he appeared in We Will Rock You (Khashoggi, Chief of Police),[24]Grease (40th anniversary tour, playing "Teen Angel")[25] and Rocky Horror Show (Rocky).[26]
He played pantomime leads in Beauty and the Beast, praised for carrying the show "rather spectacularly" with "remarkable gravitas",[27] and Cinderella.[28]
During 2009, Rhydian, One Year On was aired by S4C.[32]
In 2011, Rhydian presented an eight-part television entertainment series for S4C,[33][34] with his album Caneuon Cymraeg (Welsh Songs) being released to tie in with it.
Final albums
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]
In February 2025, he will release 'The Very Best of My Life', a goodbye Greatest Hits collection.[35]
Retirement and career change
Rhydian currently works as an artist manager at Neil O'Brien Entertainment.
^Rhydian (2008), recorded for Sony BMG, who offered him a recording contract the day after finishing as runner-up. He fulfilled a long-held dream by duetting in the final with Katherine Jenkins."ICWales".
^Upon release, the album charted at number 3, selling over 150,000 in its first two weeks and over 300,000 after four weeks to win Platinum Album status as awarded by the BPI.
