Ricky Wilson (singer)
Charles Richard Wilson (born 17 January 1978) is an English singer-songwriter, and the frontman of five-piece band Kaiser Chiefs. Before the formation of the band, in 2003, Wilson was a member of the band Runston Parva (later known as Parva), which consisted of members of Kaiser Chiefs. On 19 September 2013, Wilson was confirmed as a coach on The Voice UK.[1] He was the winning coach for both the fourth[2] and fifth series of the show,[3] being the only coach to win two years consecutively. Wilson left the show after three series,[4][5] following the show's move to ITV.[6][7]
Ricky Wilson | |
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![]() Wilson performing with Kaiser Chiefs in 2014 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Charles Richard Wilson |
Born | Keighley, West Yorkshire, England | 17 January 1978
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1999–present |
Associated acts |
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Early life
Wilson was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire to Glynne and TV producer, Geoff Wilson.[8] He has one brother, James.
He attended Leeds Grammar School after Ghyll Royd primary school, and later attended Leeds Metropolitan University and completed his BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Arts and Design in 2000 before undertaking his master's degree in Art and Design.[9][10] He then taught at Leeds College of Art and Design for a year before the band's big break.[11]
Career
Wilson, with Nick Hodgson and Andrew White, formed the band Runston Parva. After the group failed to land a record deal, the band re-formed as Parva, with their old friends, Simon Rix and Nick Baines, joining the group, following their return from university. The band landed a record deal; they were later dropped following the closure of Mantra Recordings. They had just recently released their debut album 22 and their first three singles.
Following this, the group decided to re-form for the third time, with intentions to sign a new long-term record label and release new musical material, now named Kaiser Chiefs. Their name was adapted from the South African football team Kaizer Chiefs. James Sandom became their new manager and they soon signed a recording contract with B-Unique Records.
Outside music
The Voice UK
On 19 September 2013, Wilson confirmed he would replace Danny O'Donoghue as a coach on the third series of The Voice UK alongside will.i.am, Tom Jones, and fellow new coach Kylie Minogue, who replaced Jessie J.[12][13] During the series, Katy B appeared as Wilson's team mentor.[14] For the fourth series, Wilson appeared alongside Tom Jones, will.i.am and Rita Ora. He was named the winning coach during the 4 April 2015 live final when Stevie McCrorie won the public vote. The following year, he again appeared alongside will.i.am with new coaches, Boy George and Paloma Faith.[15] On 9 April 2016, he became winning coach for the second time when Kevin Simm won the fifth series. [16] The final pitted Team Ricky against Team Ricky with both of Wilson's acts knocking the other coaches out of the live final.[17] The win made him the Voice UK coach with the most wins. He left the show prior to its move to ITV.[18]
Media work
![](../I/m/KaiserChiefs-Greenville-Festival-2013-12.jpg)
Wilson has twice been a guest on the BBC Two television show, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, firstly in 2005 as a panellist and then as a guest host in 2006. He also featured on the panel of the BBC Television comedy series, Shooting Stars, in 2009. In 2008, he appeared in Peter Kay's talent show parody, Peter Kay's Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice, in a duet with the show's protagonist, Geraldine McQueen.[19] Wilson had a minor role in St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold, as the rock star boyfriend of Sarah Harding's character, Roxy. Wilson stated on his Radio X show that he was cast to appear in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 fronting a wizard band made up of actual musicians. When the band was replaced with CGI instruments, he was invited instead to appear in a background role as Dirk Cresswell in a scene at the Ministry of Magic. Between November 2012 and January 2013, Wilson took on the role of the Artilleryman in the staged musical, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation. Wilson and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix wrote and performed the theme tune for Zig and Zag.[20] Wilson joined new radio station Radio X in September 2015. He currently presents the Sunday morning show from 11 am to 2 pm.[21]
In October 2015, Wilson became the host of Sky 1's music and comedy panel show Bring the Noise.[22] He appeared on the show opposite former The X Factor judge and the Pussy Cat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, stand up comedian Joel Dommett, rapper Tinie Tempah and comedian Katherine Ryan.[23] However, in April 2016, it was announced that the show had been cancelled after just one series due to declining ratings.[24]
In 2017, he appeared as a guest on The Grand Tour, a motoring programme presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
In 2018, Ricky became patron of MAS Records, part of Kidderminster College, alongside Robert Plant.
In 2020, Wilson launched a new series of podcasts with veteran English DJ Tony Blackburn entitled Ricky and Tony's Pop Detectives. In the series Wilson and Blackburn try to ascertain whether or not long rumoured myths and claims surrounding pop stars lives and their music are true. The series launched to positive reviews and a second series was released later in the year.
Personal life
During the early days of Kaiser Chiefs, Wilson was well known for wearing stripy blazers, waistcoats, turn-up jeans, and winkle picker shoes, a style that won him the Shockwaves NME Award For Best Dressed Person in 2006.[25] Lately, he has adopted a more casual dress code. Wilson is well known for his energetic stage presence, climbing scaffolding, standing on the safety barrier, and at times crowd surfing. Of crowd surfing, Wilson says he likes to "get out and see the crowd, see what they smell like".[26] Such exploits have occasionally resulted in injury, such as torn ankle ligaments after jumping off stage during a concert in Portugal.[27]
In May 2006, Wilson was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Leeds. He was hit by a car while attempting to walk over a pedestrian crossing, suffering bruising and a broken toe owing to a 'Ricky trademark jump' which resulted in him hitting the windscreen and being flipped over the top of the vehicle rather than trapped underneath.[28]
Wilson has been in a relationship with celebrity stylist Grace Zito since early 2015. They became engaged in April 2018 and were due to marry in August 2019.
Wilson and the band are supporters of Amnesty International[29] and Nordoff-Robbins music therapy.[30]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2005 | The Friday Night Project | Himself | Guest appearance – with Kaiser Chiefs |
2005, 2017 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | Himself | Guest appearance – with Kaiser Chiefs |
2005 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Himself | Musical guest appearance – with Kaiser Chiefs |
2005 | Popworld | Himself | Guest appearance – with Kaiser Chiefs |
2005 | Kaiser Chiefs: Enjoyment | Himself | Short video |
2005 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Himself | Guest presenter |
2006 | |||
2006 | Top of the Pops | Himself | Guest appearance |
2006 | Later...with Jools Holland | Himself | Interview appearance (solo) |
2007 | |||
2007 | Brit Awards | Himself | Guest appearance – with Kaiser Chiefs |
2007 | Friday Night with Jonathan Ross | Himself | 2 guest appearances
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2009 | Shooting Stars | Himself | Guest appearance (solo) |
2009 | St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold | Rockstar | Actor |
2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 | Dirk Cresswell | Cameo (solo) |
2011 | Breakfast | Himself | TV interview; later musical performance – with Kaiser Chiefs |
2012 | Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation | The Artilleryman | Actor |
2014–16 | The Voice UK | Himself | Main cast; coach/judge; 45 episodes (solo) |
2014 | The Voice: Louder on Two | Himself | 5 episodes; guest appearances |
2014-18 | Celebrity Juice | Himself | 6 episodes; guest appearances |
2015 | Bring the Noise | Himself | Main presenter (solo) |
2015— | The One Show | Himself | Guest presenter (4 episodes) |
2017 | The Grand Tour | Himself, guest[31] | Celebrity Face Off, Series 2 Episode 1 |
2018 | The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bakeoff | Himself[32] | Contestant, Episode 2 |
References
- "The Voice: Ricky Wilson confirms he will be replacing Danny O'Donoghue as new judge on BBC One's talent show - Mirror Online". mirror. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- The Voice UK: Steve McCrorie crowned winner - BBC News. bbc.co.uk/
- Copson, Josie (10 April 2016). "Liberty X's Kevin Simm has only gone and won The Voice". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- "'The Voice' UK: Ricky Wilson Confirms He's Quitting Judging Panel After Series 5, When BBC Show Moves To ITV". Huffington Post.
- "Ricky Wilson WILL be on The Voice UK on ITV... on one condition | The Voice UK 2017". TellyMix. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- Darvill, Josh (9 July 2016). "Ricky Wilson will NOT be on The Voice UK on ITV (at least for now!)". TellyMix. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- "Sir Tom Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Gavin Rossdale to join will.i.am as our new Voice UK superstar coaches!". The Voice UK. itv.com. 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- "Do you want to wake up in rock star's bedroom?". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- "Former Leeds Met student and Kaiser Chiefs frontman, Ricky Wilson, to be coach on BBC1's The Voice". Leedsmet.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 9 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- "Ricky Wilson – BA (Hons) Graphics & Art Design and MA Graphics and Art Design". www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
- "Q&A". theguardian.com. Retrieved 21 August 2005.
- "'The Voice' UK: Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson confirmed as fourth coach". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- "Kaiser Chiefs star Ricky Wilson joins The Voice". BBC News Online. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- Wightman, Catriona (25 February 2014). "The Voice: Katy B, Tinie Tempah, more join as mentors – pictures". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- "Paloma Faith and Boy George join The Voice, Sir Tom leaves". 14 August 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- Mohan, Isabel (11 April 2016). "The Voice: why Kevin Simm deserved to win, plus 7 things we learned from the final". Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- Travis, Ben (9 April 2016). "The Voice UK 2016: Former Liberty X star Kevin Simm beats Jolan, Lydia Lucy, and Cody Frost in the final". Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- Daly, Emma (21 January 2016). "Ricky Wilson doesn't regret decision to leave The Voice: "It's only telly"". Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- Ricky Wilson on Peter Kay's Britain's Got the Pop Factor. YouTube. 12 October 2008.
- Zig and Zag theme by Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson and Simon Rix on CBBC. YouTube. 16 August 2015.
- "Ricky Wilson - Sundays 11am - 2pm". Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- "Bring The Noise". Sky One. Sky UK. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- "Bring The Noise Coming soon Bring It On!". Sky. 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- Lee, Ben (7 April 2016). "Bring the Noise: Ricky Wilson and Nicole Scherzinger's panel show won't be back". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- "ShockWaves NME Awards 2006". Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- Interview with Ricky Wilson, Kaiser Chiefs – Enjoyment (Universal Island, DVD Video, 2005)
- "Kaiser Chiefs singer injures leg during gig". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- "Kaiser Chiefs singer hit by car". Retrieved 23 May 2006.
- "Kaiser Chiefs unveil new human rights film during UK tour". Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- "Kaiser Chiefs break ground at Newcastle centre". Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- "The Grand Tour season 2 confirms celebrity guests". 27 November 2017.
- "Meet the contestants taking part in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer". Radio Times. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ricky Wilson. |
- Ricky Wilson on IMDb
- KaiserChiefs.com
- Gigshot.co.uk – Kaiser Chiefs at Paradiso Amsterdam, 29 May 2007
- NME.com – ShockWaves NME Awards 2006: Full list of winners
- NME.com – Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson: 'I turned down the chance to be a judge on "The Voice"'
- NME.com – Kaiser Chief's Ricky Wilson opens up about his role in 'The War Of The Worlds'