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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Rutland
Posts: 25,358
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Rutland
Posts: 25,358
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Real battle begins for X Factor\'s Rhydian
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Real battle begins for X Factor's Rhydian X FACTOR star Rhydian Roberts is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Simon Cowell and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber as the pair fight to control his future.
Millions of viewers last night saw the bookies’ favourite battle it out in this year’s live final, opposite Scot Leon Jackson and brother-sister duo Same Difference.
This year’s winner will clinch a £1m record deal with Simon Cowell’s record label Sony/BMG and almost certainly top the charts with the Christmas number one.
But today, Wales on Sunday can reveal how West End mogul Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has launched a fierce bid to snatch tee-total virgin Rhydian from under Cowell’s nose and make him an international stage star.
Sir Andrew was due to seal his support last night in a special pre-recorded message broadcast as part of the final, in which viewers saw the Welsh singing sensation sing Christmas ballad O Holy Night, West Side Story classic Somewhere and You Raise Me Up with Katherine Jenkins.
But we can reveal how the theatre legend has been secretly texting Rhydian on his mobile phone as he prepares to cast a new Broadway version of The Phantom of the Opera, called The Phantom of Manhattan.
Last night the row to land Rhydian intensified after judge Louis Walsh urged the star to ignore Sir Andrew’s advances.
He said: “Sir Andrew has got your number, but don’t take his call.”
And today, in an exclusive interview, Rhydian:
* Insists he’s not gay;
* Confesses he’s fallen in love with Simon Cowell’s make-up artist;
* Praises Charlotte Church for being a good role model; and
* Blasts Sharon Osbourne for attacking his mentor Dannii Minogue in the media.
Sir Andrew is said to be eager to snare Rhydian to play the lead in the Phantom sequel after his production team rejected him at TVauditions for his latest West End smash, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Last night, Rhydian’s uncle Nigel Roberts, 49, revealed: “Sir Andrew has been texting Rhydian before he goes on stage most Saturdays to wish him good luck.
“He has been a fan ever since Rhydian performed Phantom of The Opera on The X Factor.
“He is a fan. There has been talk of Rhydian starring in the new version of Phantom in America in 2009.”
Rhydian, 25, from Sennybridge, Powys, let slip his hopes of becoming the next Phantom in today’s exclusive interview.
And in a blow to Cowell, the rugby fanatic said he’s keen to star in one of Sir Andrew’s shows as soon as possible.
Rhydian said: “Andrew and I have communicated. I just hope that one day I can be in one of his shows. Nothing’s set in stone yet, but my ambition is to play the Phantom 2 at the end of next year.”
Rhydian revealed his plan to take Broadway by storm as he hit back at kiss-and-tells in the press and speculation he is gay.
X Factor choreographer Brian Friedman pokes fun at Rhydian in the latest edition of gay magazine Attitude. In an interview, the American dancer says Rhydian is “the gayest straight man I know”.
But Rhydian said: “There’s nothing wrong with a bit of pink, but I’m absolutely straight. I make no bones about that.”
In fact, Rhydian revealed how he has got the hots for Simon Cowell’s make-up artist following claims that he’s secretly dating Same Difference star Sarah Smith.
Rhydian, joined at last night’s final by his family, said: “Sarah’s young enough to be my sister – we’re like family.
“She’s a lovely girl, but there is absolutely no romance there.
“I don’t fancy her, but I do fancy Simon’s make-up artist. I think her name is Julia. To be honest with you, I fancy most of the make-up artists. But I haven’t really had time to think about girlfriends at the moment.”
Instead, Rhydian is focussing on his career – saying he would love to record a duet with Katherine Jenkins and Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts.
And despite her boozy past, Rhydian says new mum Charlotte Church is a great role model for teenagers.
He said: “I think Katherine is a great ambassador to Wales. If I could have a career half as good as hers I’d be well pleased.
“I also think Charlotte is phenomenal. She’s great at reinventing herself. She’s got such charisma.
“I think that, in a different way, she’s a great ambassador for Wales. At such a young age she’s become such a star, and I don’t listen to any bad press about her. I haven’t met her yet, but I hope to at some point.”
And a duet with Paul Potts could soon be on the cards.
He said: “I’d definitely be up for doing a duet. Paul has done really well and he’s sold a huge number of albums.
“It happened really quickly for him, and now I’ve got the same chance. To be honest, I’d quite like to have a duets album.”
Rhydian also stuck up for his mentor Dannii Minogue, who last week suffered the wrath of fellow judge Sharon Osbourne.
Ozzy’s wife lashed out by telling TV star Graham Norton that Dannii was only recruited as a judge for this year’s series because of her looks – not her musical talent.
But in response, Rhydian said: “It’s not very nice. I’ve got to speak for my mentor.
Dannii’s an extremely lovely lady and she’s done a really good job by me.
“A lot of it has been blown out of proportion. They seem to get on fine off camera, so it’s all a bit showbiz, all a bit panto.”
It’s all in stark contrast to the beginning of the series when Rhydian was a relative outsider and was made a mockery of in the show’s boot camp stages. Sharon even blasted him as nauseating and arrogant.
But Rhydian claims he was portrayed as the villain in order to make good TV.
He said: “The initial edit of the show was completely twisted. They made me out to be something I wasn’t – and I couldn’t control that. But I was determined to turn that around, and over time people have seen who I really am.”
Now, Rhydian is looking to the future and is planning his forthcoming album which is pencilled in for release next year – but not before a bit of Christmas shopping with his newly-found fortune.
He said: “I would like to go on holiday. It would be nice to go and get some sun for a bit.
“I also promised my dad I’d buy him a field in the countryside. I also need a new set of razors because they’re blunt. Because I have been so busy with the show I haven’t had enough time to go to the shops.”
But as international stardom surely beckons, Rhydian says he won’t forget the green, green grass of home.
He said: “I’m extremely proud to be Welsh.”
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Source: icWales
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16-12-2007, 11:09 AM
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he is as camp as Chirstmas.
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