Pop Idol star Rik Waller unrecognisable 23 years later after shock career change [Video]

Pop Idol star Rik Waller is living a very different life these days, more than 20 years after he rose to fame.

The singer from Kent wowed judges Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman, Pete Waterman and Neil Fox with his vocals back in 2001, when he was 20 years old.

He became a favourite to win the first series of the reality singing competition, and was catapulted to fame.

Sadly, he had to pull out of the competition, despite making it to the final ten alongside the likes of Will Young and Gareth Gates.

Rik was suffering from severe laryngitis, and his place in the show was instead taken by Darius Danesh.

Despite the setback, he went on to score two UK top 40 hits with covers of I Will Always Love You and (Something Inside) So Strong, which featured in his 2002 album, From Now…

However, just five years later, Rik was forced to quit singing and …