Lewis Hamilton's Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger flirted with me says X-Factor star Rhydian Roberts

Nov 29 2008 By Anuji Varma

judge Simon Cowell signed him up anyway.

Now the blond-haired singer has released his debut album, and his single The Impossible Dream is out soon.

He added: “All I wanted from X Factor was a record deal and that’s what I got. I’ve spent a lot of time in LA recording it and I’m really pleased with the outcome. I helped to co-write some of the original tracks and also pick some of the covers that are on there.”

Rhydian has worked with Meatloaf’s producers on the album which also features a cover of the rocker’s Not A Dry Eye In The House, as well as West Side Story hit Somewhere and the Simon and Garfunkel classic Bridge Over Troubled Water.

And he’s making sure the record isn’t only heard in the UK.

“America is next,” he said. “I want to do as well as Leona Lewis.”

Leona is the only winner of a UK reality show to break into the US music scene and land a number one album in the Billboard charts. She shot to fame with a performance on the Oprah Winfrey chat show.

Rhydian added: “Simon’s working on getting me a slot on Oprah. That would be really amazing.”

The singer will perform at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on May 19.