[Red Moon]

RHYDIAN'S A JOSEPH REJECT

X Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts was booted out of the BBC's Any Dream Will Do - because his singing wasn't good enough.

The opera singer, dubbed X Factor's Mr Nasty, auditioned for the Saturday night series along with thousands of other hopefuls in Birmingham earlier this year.

But the smug 25-year-old, judged "worldclass" by Simon Cowell, didn't even make it past the regional heats. He was told not to come back after he failed to impress theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Desperate to be a star, Rhydian went back to music college in Birmingham before auditioning for X Factor.

Last night - as Rhydian sang Pink's Get The Party Started on TV - his former singing coach Melissa O'Donnell said: "I was surprised he didn't do better in Any Dream Will Do. He belongs in musicals. X Factor is more about pop and Rhyd is a high drama act. He doesn't do subtle that well."

Melissa experienced a year of drama with Rhydian when she gave the oddball star singing lessons in his final year at Birmingham University in 2003.

She also told how the singing muscleman, who admits to being a flop with women, tried to kiss her after class one day - "but I told him I just wanted to be friends".

The arrogant Welshman has said on the ITV show he dreamed of being knighted by the Queen for his vocal talent and future No1 hits. Melissa, 25, now a singing teacher in St Albans, said: "He is a genuinely caring person and brashness is a big front to hide his insecurities. But he is an amazing talent and he does deserve to win."

Source:Sunday Mirror