Rhydian Roberts. Arguably the real winner of last year’s X Factor, denied the ultimate prize by the power of teenagers voting for er…that other fella.

But he got his record deal the very next day after losing X Factor to Leon Jackson.

Fast forward to almost a year later and Rhydian is back on the scene with his debut album just released (today). You’ve got to wonder what this guy’s been up to in the last year and how he feels about how he was portrayed on X Factor. Well, we got the chance to ask him directly!

This time last year, you were a finalist on X Factor – one of the biggest shows in the UK. Can you just fill us in on what’s changed for you since then?

Well, pretty much everything in my professional life and singing career has changed. I’ve had the best year of my life. As soon as Simon signed me the next day after X Factor, I was in the studio, and I’ve been working a lot in America, in Los Angeles with a producer called Walter A. He was behind Mariah Carey’s success, and he’s worked with Celine Dion, Michael Jackson and Pavarotti even. He thought he was right for me because of the classical background, and I’m actually singing a song on the album that he wrote for me called There’ll Be A Time.

I’m a huge fan of the quasi-operatic artists of the past like Freddie Mercury and Meat Loaf, so I also wanted to include some classic rock songs. I’ve got a Queen song on the album, and a Diane Warren song that she wrote for Meat Loaf called Not A Dry Eye In The House. I went to Nashville to record that with Desmond Child.

I lived out there for three weeks with Desmond and got to know him. And the rest of the time I spent in Sweden, in Stockholm, writing and recording with some Swedish producers. And I’ve recently moved to London.

In between writing and recording, I’ve been gigging. I had a gig the other day with Girls Aloud, which was nice, and I’ve met Princes William and Harry. I don’t want to name drop, but it’s been busy, the dream is coming true.

Wow. That’s a long way from being what they called the ‘pantomime villain’ on X Factor!

Yeah, but I always saw a light at the end of the tunnel throughout all of that. My quest was to get the contract and let people hear me for who I really am, see me for who I am. And every show needs a villain, somebody they need to hate, and I happened to be that guy. It’s done me a favour in the long though, I think.

I was worried that the cartoon character they created would affect your image in the long run. How do you think that’s affected you?

It’s difficult to say, but the main thing is that Simon doesn’t perceive me as that at all – he really admires me and respects me, he’s really taken me down a serious route as a singer and that’s what I’d always intended. And when you’ve got somebody of his calibre backing you, you never know what you can achieve.

I think generally people saw through the nonsense in X Factor. It was all a bit of fun, but then when we got to the live shows, people could really see me for who I was. I think I won over the majority.

You’ve got a new album, ‘Rhydian’ coming out on Monday 24th November. How’ve you gone about putting the album together and choosing songs for it?

Well, what happens when you’re making an album is an A&R process where you sit down and brainstorm a whole load of songs that are appropriate. You look at various producers and songwriters that suit you. I think I’m slightly different as a performer, so that’s another reason we’ve taken so long to release a record.

I was passionate about getting a duet on the album, and I’m honoured to say that I’ve duetted with Idina Menzel, who’s a broadway star, and I’m a huge broadway fan. She sings a song, What If with me.

The lead track The Impossible Dream has an almost autobiographical feel to it. Especially with the last 18 months and my journey through X Factor until now, and the epic style of the song suits my style of singing.

We were going to ask about the mass market appeal of this operatic type of music, but this week Il Divo, another one of Simon’s acts has gone to Number 1 with their new album.

Yeah, Il Divo are great and it shows that the public do like a classical voice. I think it’s slightly different for me again, because they’re four operatic singers. I was classically trained and I was intending to go into opera, but I don’t sing in an operatic style. It’s slightly different.

I sing in a classical style, but I don’t have operatic sob. I try and stay true to the genre. But still, it’s not a pop voice.

There were rumours that you’d be working with Meat Loaf producer Jim Steinman on this album?

Well, it hasn’t happened for this album, but apparently Jim stumbled across me on YouTube and he came across my rendition of Anything For Love. He got in touch with my agent, inquired about me so in the future, it would be great to work with Jim Steinman.

You mentioned working with Desmond Child – what was it like working with him?

Well, he’s an extremely extravagant, eccentric guy and I didn’t know what to make of him when I first met him. But you know what, he’s become a great friend. I admire his talent, he’s extremely professional and I loved Nashville. His studio was my favourite studio to work in. His studio was my favourite to work in.

Have you gone through that surreal phase where it seems like you’re dreaming the whole thing?

Yeah, well every day I pinch myself! I’m loving it, I’m meeting some extraordinary people – I’ve just come from this function and I was with the Pussycat Dolls! It was an impromptu thing, but amazing to be chatting with them.

Now, obviously you’re classically trained, and you didn’t just stumble into a reality TV audition. You’re obviously serious about your career, so where do you see yourself in a few years time?

I’m very ambitious, I set myself lots of goals. Where I’d like to see myself in the next few years is to continue making records and touring. What I really love about performing is the live touring and I loved being on the X Factor tour which was a blast. My tour won’t be an arena tour, it’ll be a more intimate setting, but still the opportunity to perform live.

A few years down the line I’d love to do theatre, musical theatre. I’ll keep on training my voice and see where that takes me. Maybe 10-15 years down the line my voice will have developed more, and it might be ready for opera.

Would you take on any acting work?

Acting? I’d love to do some acting work. I trained as an actor at Birmingham University, so I’d love to exercise those skills.

Rhydian’s debut album is now available to buy.