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RIK WALLER, NOW LIVING IN THE MIDLANDS, WAS SIGNED BY EMI AFTER HIS STINT ON POP IDOL WAS BRUTALLY ENDED BY ILLNESS, BUT NOW HAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LIFE 18:43, 31 May 2025 Pop Idol only

aired for two series in the early 2000s, but was instrumental in launching the careers of Gareth Gates, Will Young and Michelle McManus. It also propelled Kent-born singer Rik Waller to

stardom, who was a strong contender to win the first series of the reality singing competition. In 2001, a then 20 year old Rik impressed judges Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman

and Neil Fox with his exceptional vocal talent, earning him a place in the final ten. READ MORE Nick Knowles' 'six figure' wedding as he marries Katie Dazdie this weekend

However, his journey on the show was abruptly ended due to laryngitis. Despite his early departure, he did achieve some chart success with his cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always

Love You, which reached number six in the UK singles chart. Article continues below 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). Now aged 44, Rik has a very different career. By 2014, Rik had left his chart-topping days behind and returned to his roots, moving back in with his parents. He

found work as a secondary school exam invigilator under his birth name, Richard, while also trying his hand at his father's mobile karaoke and disco business. His Facebook page reveals

that the former singer continues to work as an exam invigilator and resides in Leicester. In a frank discussion with the Daily Mail in 2013, Rik shared the humbling experience of job

hunting: "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'." He opened up about the

pain of losing his career: "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. "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." Despite the setbacks, he found contentment in

life's simple pleasures, adding: "If you've got a roof over your head and food on the table I don't know how anyone can be truly unhappy." Rik appeared on various UK

reality shows, including Celebrity Fit Club, and formed a band that signed with Red Admiral Records after being dropped by EMI. However, after disappointing ticket sales, they cancelled a

planned tour and disbanded. Article continues below The last time Rik appeared on our screens was in February 2007, on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, reports the Mirror.