Pop Idol

Waller was to be a finalist in the first series of the British ITV television series Pop Idol having initially made it into the last ten of the show, but then pulled out due to severe laryngitis, and his place was taken by Darius Danesh.^[1]

EMI

Following the show, Waller signed a recording contract with EMI in a deal worth approximately £400,000.^[2] His first single was a cover version of Dolly Parton's song "I Will Always Love You" which made No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3] He followed this up with another top 40 hit, recorded originally by Labi Siffre, "(Something Inside) So Strong".^[3] Both of these songs appear on Waller's album From Now....

Red Admiral Records

When he was dropped by EMI, Waller formed his own band to take his music out on the road. He then signed an album deal with Red Admiral Records.^[4] Two months into Waller's Beyond Reality Tour 2004, three concerts were cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Among them was a show at the Princess Theatre in Torquay, Devon, for which only two tickets were sold.^[5]

His second album Innocence was released in September 2005. The band was subsequently renamed 'Rik Waller's Mighty Soul Band', and then renamed again to 'Rik Waller's Unfinished Business'.

TV appearances

Waller has appeared as himself on several TV shows. In 2002, he appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, but he was kicked off the show when he was caught binge eating.^[6]

On 28 February 2007, Waller appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in the Identity Parade Round and briefly replaced captain Phill Jupitus when it became clear who was the real Rik Waller. He has not appeared on TV since.^[7]