HE was one of the most memorable acts to emerge from The X Factor...and one of the more enduring.

Rhydian first burst into the limelight as a contestant on the 2007 series and his extraordinary performances led to Simon Cowell describing him as ‘world class’ and Celine Dion saying ‘Rhydian is in a different league, he’s amazing’.

The double-platinum award-winning, Classical Brit nominated Welsh baritone is now heading out on a UK tour and performs in Hampshire next month.

The fifteen-date tour celebrates the success of his fifth and latest Number 1 classical crossover album One Day Like This.

He plays The Concorde Club, Eastleigh on Thursday October 15.

Joining Rhydian as his special guest throughout the tour will be Lucy Kay, who shot to fame after coming second on last year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent and achieving her own Number 1 in Official Classical Album Charts with the release of her debut album Fantasia.

Rhydian said, “This autumn sees the culmination of my One Day Like this tour after a year on the road. It's been amazing but I've saved the best until now! I'm so delighted that Lucy Kay will be supporting me. What an awesome talent she is. You'll also hear us duet together for the first time ever! What's more, in addition to hearing songs from my Number 1 album, you will hear exclusive performances from my brand new album that is being release later in the year.”

Rhydian’s One Day Like This enjoyed ten weeks at Number 1 in the Official Classical Album Charts, making it one of the biggest selling classical albums of 2014. He has also completed two successful tours and starred in Beauty & The Beast, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

Over the past eight years Rhydian's career has seen him sell in excess of a million albums worldwide. He has performed and duetted with a wide cross-section of the biggest names in music from Bryn Terfel to Idina Menzel. He presented and performed in his own ten-part TV series and has starred in many lead roles in Musical Theatre. Simon Cowell described him as 'world class' and Celine Dion said, “Rhydian is in a different league, he's amazing”.

Following Lucy’s success on BGT, in addition to her Number 1 debut album, she was snapped-up to go on a joint tour with Andrea Bocelli, and then with Collabro, singing to over 75000 people.

With her follow-up album due for release in September 2015, Lucy will entertain and delight with her favourite tunes from the worlds of opera, jazz and musical theatre.

Lucy said, “It's such an honour to be Rhydian's special guest for his UK tour, I feel very blessed for this opportunity and I really can't wait to perform alongside such a classical crossover legend. It's going to be a fantastic!”

Having opened for John Barrowman on his UK tour in May, Hampshire singer Miel de Botton is also providing additional support for Rhydian on on selected dates - including Eastleigh.

The audience can enjoy the romantic sounds of Paris in spring as Miel performs songs in both French and English from her debut album ‘Magnetic’.

John Barrowman said of her: “Miel was a dream to have on tour, her unique healing sound was a delight to the audience and me every night.”

The Concorde Club, Eastleigh

Box Office: 0238 061 3989 theconcordeclub.com