It's hard to believe that Rhydian Roberts and his peroxide blonde hair first lit up our screens 15 years ago.
The Welsh singing sensation auditioned for The X Factor in 2007 during his final year at university and was an instant hit with viewers for his flamboyant style and dazzling hair.
"I had it all through university but it wasn't quite as white," explained Rhydian on Loose Women in 2018, joking he was a "Phillip Schofield tribute act".
He continued: "I remember when I was on X Factor Simon Cowell kept saying, 'No, no it needs to be whiter,' so really it was him who gave me the damage to this hair. It's not health all this maintenance."
His full theatrical account of 'The Phantom of the Opera' led to Celine Dion to say he was "in a different league" and he was favourite to win the series.
But he was portrayed as the villain, with Rhydian later claiming Simon told him: "Rhydian, yes we're painting you as a villain, but that's what they did with me."
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Rhydian somewhat controversially finished in second place to winner Leon Jackson, but was still offered a recording contract by Simon.
"I had a great time, it was a whirlwind," he said. "I was surprised I even got to the final two because of the nature of the voice. It's very much a pop show."
His debut album in November 2008, titled 'Rhydian', gained platinum status in weeks and earned him the title of highest selling male solo artist of the year with 600,000 copies sold.
He performed to an audience of over 30,000 at Andrew Lloyd Webber's 60th Birthday Party in Hyde Park and Prince Charles invited him to become a patron of The Prince's Trust.
After going on tour, Rhydian released second album 'O Fortuna' and recorded his own television special for Welsh broadcaster S4C followed by the documentary 'Rhydian'.
As well as releasing music, Rhydian was clearly hitting the gym as he got incredibly ripped.
The Welsh singer was a powerlifter at school and a strong bench presser but had rarely shown off his buff physique until a photoshoot in 2015.
Rhydian showed off his incredible physique in steamy shirtless snaps - with his rippling adds and bulging biceps on show.
In 2018, Rhydian opened up on having struggled with his body image in the past.
"I did back at university. I guess you'd call it body dysmorphia," he explained on Loose Women in 2018. "I don't have it now but when you're on TV there's always a pressure to look good.
"The same is true with men as well. I don't have it bad at all. When I was muscular, you're never big enough or thing enough, whatever it is.
"It's not that important now and the older you get the more accepting you are."
After releasing two classical crossover albums, Rhydian decided to change his sound for his 2011 album 'Waves'.
"My first two albums were classical crossover and did very, very well," he told Wales Online. "But I went on the X Factor to be a pop star, not an opera star, and it’s great to have the opportunity to record an album like this."
Rhydian admitted he would always be happy to be associated with the TV show that made him famous.
"I’m very proud of what I achieved on X Factor. I’m a showman and it gave me the chance to put on a show. I’d really like to perform at open-air concerts, I love to put on a show," he explained.
"But I hope people enjoy this album. It shows a different side of me and what I can do."
Rhydian joined the cast of West End musical 'We Will Rock You' in 2011, has appeared in the pantomime Aladdin, ‘he Rocky Horror Show and touring productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Little Shop of Horrors.
However, it seems that Rhydian has moved away from performing in recent years and is now working away from the limelight.
As well as describing himself as an "X Factor legend" in his Twitter bio, Rhydian reveals he is working for an entertainment management company.
His new role is as an Artist Manager and Promoter to the stars, including Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead, Iranian-Candian West End actor Rami Karimloo, actress Samantha Barks and pop band UB40.
Rhydian is certainly keeping himself busy as he has also stated that he is a property developer and investor.
As for his love life, Rhydian explained he was putting his career before any relationship in 2007.
"I don't want to sound like a machine, but I have always been so focused on what I do that I don't have much time for anything else," he told Mail Online.
"I have always wanted to focus on being the best that I can possibly be. Most of my time I am either training my voice, in the gym, or doing performances.
"It can come across as obsessive but I believe that if you want things in life you have to work at them. You have to make sacrifices."
But he started a relationship with girlfriend Liesl after meeting in 2016 and became step dad to her son.
Explaining it was wonderful but challenging, Rhydian said in 2018: "He doesn't have a dad basically so I stepped in and I'm playing the role. I love it, you have to become completely selfless. To see his development is just gorgeous to see.
"He hates me singing. I practise at home and he says, 'daddy, daddy, stop singing.'"
Earlier this year, there was speculation that Rhydian was taking part in The Masked Singer.
Viewers believed the "strong theatrical operatic voice" and Welsh twang belonged to him.
One person tweeted: "I said Ales Jones last time but I feel it's not him, someone maybe younger like Rhydian".
"#MaskedSingerUK Traffic Cone is Rhydian from X factor," another insisted.
Although it turned out that Traffic Cone, who was voted off in a double elimination, was actually classical star Aled Jones.
Rhydian probably welcomed comparisons to the Walking In The Air singer, but responding to speculation he was under the mask he tweeted "Lol" and a cry laughing emoji.
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