Rhydian’s Premiership goal

Mar 7 2008 by Cathy Owen, South Wales Echo

RHYDIAN Roberts wants to be the David Beckham of the music world.

He wants to be a Premiership player rather the star of a team languishing in the relegation zone.

Big words from the singer who came runner-up in the X Factor last year.

Listening to his bravado and knowing the way he can sing you can’t help but think that he might be right, he will be more like table-topping Ryan Giggs than down-in-the-doldrums Robert Earnshaw.

Despite his arrogance you can’t help but warm to Rhydian.

Before the interview, I had been warned to only talk to him about the current X Factor tour, which comes to Cardiff International Arena for three nights next week.

But Rhydian is more interested in thanking the Echo and its readers for all their support during X Factor, and talking about his new £1m album deal.

But, after steering him back to tour talk, he admits he has been looking forward to being reunited with the gang of X Factor finalists.

“During our break between Christmas and February I did keep in touch with Beverly and Same Difference, and I texted Leon,” said Brecon-born Rhydian, as we chatted prior to the tour kicking off.

“It is fantastic to be touring around the UK but obviously I am looking forward to performing in Cardiff the most.”

Rhydian is currently performing Go West and Get The Party Started on tour, something the producers have persuaded him to do.

And despite the fact you get the feeling he would prefer to have chosen the songs himself, he has no regrets about doing X Factor.

Rhydian’s disappointment at losing out to Leon in the final of X Factor was short-lived, when Simon Cowell offered him a £1m record deal two days after the final show.

“On the night I was disappointed,” he said. “But my ultimate aim was to get signed so that is truly a dream come true.

“Many of the finalists do disappear and I am determined not to do that.

“I’m really glad that I took my Uncle Nige’s advice and auditioned for the show.

“It is really important that I had my family’s backing and I couldn’t have done it without them,” said Rhydian, whose uncle Nigel Roberts is a former president of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce and owns Paramount Office Interiors in St Mellons, Cardiff.

“I wanted to be fast tracked into a league with the big guns, and X Factor did that for me.”

Rhydian says that once he “puts X Factor to bed” at the end of the tour, he will not dash headlong into an album and expects it to be ready by the autumn.

“I don’t want to rush into anything,” said the fluent Welsh speaker.

“I am going to spend my time getting it just right. I want to do everything in my power to have a number one successful album.”

He is also planning to team up with Katherine Jenkins again to perform with her at her special Margam Park concert in July.

And while the WRU might not have taken Rhydian up on his offer of singing at the Millennium Stadium before the Six Nations rugby games – a decision that left him “disappointed” – it does not mean he will forget Wales.

“I am extremely proud of my Welsh roots and will never forget that,” he said. “That is why I am so looking forward to coming back to Cardiff in March.

The X Factor 2008 Live Tour is at Cardiff International Arena from Tuesday to Thursday. To check ticket availability call the CIA box office on 029 2022 4488.