The biggest selling debut male artist of 2008 is back. Today the classically trained X Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts announces details for his brand new studio abuml. O Fortuna showcases Rhydian as his very own man. He says, “I had a much more free hand with this album. I could spend my career trying to reinvent myself but ultimately this is me as a real singer. This is very much where I envisaged being when I was at music school. I’m made up. It’s brilliant. And long may it continue.”

Produced by Karl Jenkins and Nigel Wright, the album was recorded between July and October of this year. O Fortuna is a natural progression from Rhydian’s debut release and confirms his place as the UK’s leading classical cross over artist. As well as being backed by a welsh male voice choir, the new album sees him teaming up with classical heavyweight Karl Jenkins, opera superstar Bryn Terfel, harp virtuoso Catrin Finch and the legendary Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

Rhydian pays tribute to his welsh heritage with a collection of much loved Welsh favourites such as Land Of Our Fathers and Myfanwy, classic hymns like How Great Thou Art, musical favourites Anthem from the musical Chess, pop classics Annie’s Song and The Living Years and the classical anthem O Fortuna (which has been reintroduced to a new audience by the X Factor in recent years). The album also includes a special new track, I Won’t Let You Walk This Road Alone, written for Rhydian by Grammy award winning songwriter/producer Walter Afansieff.

Rhydian’s rich baritone voice and unique talent first came to the public’s attention in 2007 when he was touted as the bookies favourite to win the X Factor. Not the typical finalist we’ve come to expect from the show, Rhydian really is a unique proposition and immediately caught the public’s imagination with his flamboyant style, passionate performances and versatile classically trained voice.

His debut album ‘Rhydian’, released in November 2008, sold over 500,000 copies making the biggest selling debut male artist of 2008, despite being kept off the top spot by The Killers and the eagerly anticipated returned of Guns N’ Roses. Although Rhydian was the runner up in 2007’s X Factor he went on to comprehensively outsell that year’s winner Leon Jackson.

Rhydian Roberts has come out in support of his former X Factor star Leon Jackson who was dropped by his record company last week.

“Leon is a great guy. I wish him well and I’m sure he’ll do fine in the future,” Roberts told the Daily Record.

“People are always trying to see if there is any conflict between us or whether we are still in competition. There probably was competition in The X Factor because that’s what it was all about. But Leon is a gent and he won fair and square.

“It was a real shame he was dropped and I feel for him. But I don’t think he needs to worry. He’ll always have work as a singer.”

This has not been a good week for last years X Factor winner, Leon Jackson. Only last week Simon Cowell admitted that he should never have won the show and today Louis also admitted that the public got it wrong.

In an interview with Richard Bacon on BBC Radio 5 live, Louis said: “He’s had a chance. The people voted for him and he won last year.
"Rhydian should probably have won. Rhydian is selling a lot more records. Rhydian is more of an artist. Sometimes the people get it wrong.”

X Factor judge Simon Cowell has admitted that the wrong person won last years X Factor.

Earlier in the year Simon publicly backed Leon Jackson, the winner of the 2007 series, but since his album and single failed to top the charts this months it seems that Simon is losing interest.

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan Simon commented “If you are going to be a star, you need to have steel in your eyes. I don’t think last year’s winner had steel in his eyes.

The Times have also reported that Simon finds Leon lacking and speaking before Roberts’s recent performance of ‘The Impossible Dream’ on The X Factor, Cowell told the newspaper: "Well, I think he’s going to prove something tonight, which is that he should have won.

"I know I’m not supposed to say Rhydian should have won but it’s true. I believe that 100%."

Rhydian Roberts may have narrowly missed out on winning the X factor crown last year, but it hasn’t stopped the fabulous opera singer from pursuing the career he is passionate about.

After the show ended, Simon Cowell wisely signed Rhydian and this week he has released his debut album titled, appropriately enough Rhydian

In an interview with Unreality TV Rhydian revealed just how quickly it all kicked off for him once the show ended saying:

“Well, pretty much everything in my professional life and singing career has changed. I’ve had the best year of my life. As soon as Simon signed me the next day after X Factor, I was in the studio, and I’ve been working a lot in America, in Los Angeles with a producer called Walter A. He was behind Mariah Carey’s success, and he’s worked with Celine Dion, Michael Jackson and Pavarotti even.”

The album includes a fabulous duet with Broadway star, Idina Menzel and Rhydian particularly loves the track Impossible Dream, he said:

“The lead track The Impossible Dream has an almost autobiographical feel to it. Especially with the last 18 months and my journey through X Factor until now, and the epic style of the song suits my style of singing.”

Watch Rhydian performing the track in the clip below.

Rhydian Roberts has been accused of plunging X Factor winner, Leon Jackson’s set into darkness at a recent X Factor show.

The pair are currently touring the UK with a number of other XF finalists and Niki Evans has revealed to The Daily Star that she suspects Rhydian was intentionally behind an electrical malfunction during Leon’s last performance.

Niki, 35, who finished fourth, said: “At the end of his performance Rhydian jumps off the stage and runs around the side to make way for Leon.

“But the other night he happened to run around the wrong way and step on a plug which turned all the bloody electrics off.”

She joked: “He claims it was an accident but whether it was sabotage or not I don’t know.

“Luckily, everyone could still hear Leon but all the stage went dark behind him. He carried on like a trouper and, bless him, he could see the funny side of it afterwards.”

X Factor runner up, Rhydian Roberts has been snubbed by his national rugby team, after he was banned from singing the national anthem before a game.

Previously, Rhydian had previously been asked to perform at a major game, but in a massive u turn this week, executives have now dropped him from the programme.

A WRU spokesman said: “Our focus now is on using community choirs.”

Rhydian’s uncle Nigel Roberts told The People: “It is astonishing. We feel the WRU has messed up.”

X Factor runner up Rhydian Roberts has admitted that he is still celibate despite the fact that he has been dating Simon Cowell’s makeup artist for the last few months.

He told The Sun: “She is OK with my celibacy. She has understanding, because she has a similar faith, which is nice.

“If people think I’m weird or whatever for not sleeping with a girl, so be it, I’ll sleep with the person I feel in love with, when I find that person and decide to marry. You can’t have a faith and try to compromise.

“I can have fun with a lady without us sleeping together.”

Many rumours have circulated the tabloids recently, claiming that X Factor runner up, Rhydian Roberts had been signed up to star in the new Phanton Of The Opera stage show.

However, in an interview with The Sun today, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, creator of the show denies having ever approached the white haired singer saying:

“I wouldn’t have thought so. I’ve never heard him sing.”

Rhydian Roberts has revealed that he is dating X Factor makeup artist, Julia Carta. Well he’s not gay then!

Rhydian admitted: “I fancied her when we were making the show.

“She’s half-Spanish and very beautiful, with dark hair and olive skin. I was also attracted to her because of her lovely personality. She was very supportive and gave me little tips and words of encouragement.

“We’re gradually getting to know one another properly and I’m very happy. She’s 12 years older than me, but that’s fine with us both.”

He also told Hello! magazine: “I don’t want to keep barking on about being a virgin and a Christian at the age of 24. I will make love with the person I fall in love with.

“The implications of sleeping around when you’re in the public eye could be dangerous – the next thing you might see is someone selling stories about you being rubbish in bed. It’s just not worth it.

Rhydian revealed his new romance in this week’s Hello! magazine
“My faith is personal to me, and basically my belief is that we should respect one another. I’m faithful and monogamous and have eyes for nobody but Julia right now.”