He said he was "in complete shock" after leaving the luxury mansion last night.

Hewitt praised his fellow contestants in the Channel Five show, adding: "We are all going to meet up and have a ding dong."

Back To Reality was billed as the battle of the reality television stars, with a host of people made famous by the genre putting themselves up for public votes.

All 12 guests entered the luxury mansion three weeks ago. They completed reality challenges to win votes from viewers.

Hewitt and Maureen Rees of Driving School were voted the two most popular guests after Craig Phillips had been ejected earlier on.

The ex-army major's win netted him £93,500 to donate to The Passage, a Christian charity that helps London's homeless.

The 11 other contestants were: Josie D'Arby of The Games, Lizzy Bardsley of Wife Swap; Nick Bateman of Big Brother; Uri Geller of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!; Jade Goody of Big Brother; Catalina Guirado of I'm A Celebrity; Sarah Kozer of Joe Millionaire; Craig Phillips of Big Brother; Maureen Rees; Ricardo Ribeiro of The Salon; and Rik Waller of pop Idol.

Goody is the ninth person to leave Five's show.

The programme has been billed as the battle of the reality television stars, with a host of people made famous by the genre putting themselves up for public votes.

Viewers vote for who they want to win with the bottom two then facing a vote among the remaining housemates to see which one goes.

The public vote revealed Goody and Driving School's Maureen Rees to be the two least popular guests.

James Hewitt and Craig Phillips, the first Big Brother winner, both decided to send Jade back to reality.

Goody spent 18 days in Reality Mansion and has managed to row with fat Pop Idol reject, Rik Waller, as well as Phillips.

She was rushed to hospital with a burst cyst on her ovary during the show, meaning she left for a brief stay in hospital.

The winner of Back To Reality gets £75,000 to donate to their favourite charity.

The would-be singer was voted out of the film studio mansion by his housemates after he and Josie D'Arby proved the least popular with the public.

Rik has had a testing time during his stay on the Channel Five show.

Within a matter of hours of his arrival he was interrogated by fellow contestant Jade Goody as to why he was overweight and lazy.

Squabbling about Rik also reached fever pitch during the last 48 hours with some contestants claiming that he had been playing up to the cameras during eviction time in order to win the sympathy vote.

The five remaining guests have been in the house since February 14 and the winner will leave on March 5.

They are Josie D'Arby, Jade Goody, James Hewitt, Craig Phillips and Maureen Rees.

The final contestants are battling it out to be crowned Britain's top reality TV star, along with a potential prize fund of £75,000 to donate to their favourite charity.

The Big Brother star suffered "severe stomach cramps" and blacked out last night in the bathroom of the mansion in Acton where the Channel 5 reality programme was being filmed.

Housemate James Hewitt was first on the scene to help before paramedics arrived on set, watched by about one million viewers.

Meanwhile, Goody's boyfriend Jeff Brazier had been giving an interview with host Richard Bacon about his 24 hours in the mansion which had been fraught with arguments over his presence, with Goody at the centre of the bust-up.

Goody, who has been among the favourites to win the show, was taken to the Central Middlesex Hospital in Acton where she is undergoing tests, a spokesman for the show said.

He said: "She has been taken to hospital in an ambulance. We do not know the cause of this.

"She recovered after collapsing but the show's producers were concerned and called emergency services. We are awaiting news of what it is regarding.

He added: "The lady that accompanied Jade to the hospital said the only thing Jade could say was, 'Don't worry, I will be back in the show. I hope I'm not going to miss out for whatever reason'."

Channel Five bosses had doubled the number of Back to Reality shows a day in a bid to generate interest in the primetime show.

But its expansion into daytime has left it with just 100,000 viewers in the morning.

The first 9.30am edition of the reality series, featuring reality show "stars" including Big Brother's Jade Goody and Wife Swap's Lizzie Bardsley, had only 100,000 viewers. This was half the number who were watching 4 Learning.

The new 2.30pm show fared better, with 300,000 viewers and a 5% share, but still trailed in behind the four other terrestrial channels.

Both shows were down on Five's performance in the same slots last Monday, when children's show Don't Blame the Koalas had 200,000 viewers at 9.30am and 70s police show repeat The Streets of San Francisco was watched by 700,000 people at 2.30pm.

Neither daytime editions of Back to Reality appear to have helped the main 8pm show, in which Lizzie Bardsley became the third person to leave the house after Nick Bateman was evicted and Uri Geller walked out.

It had 700,000 viewers, or a 3% share, against the heavyweight competition of EastEnders, which had 13.2 million.

Down 100,000 on last Monday, Back to Reality was also beaten by Channel 4's Salvage Squad. Monday night's edition of the documentary series, in which Madness frontman Suggs rebuilt a three-wheeled "mechanical horse", had 1.9 million viewers.

Lizzie Bardsley, 30, became the second contestant to be voted out of the mansion-come-TV studio Channel Five built to film the lives of 12 reality show "celebrities".

Mrs Bardsley, who was publicly scorned for not working after appearing in Channel 4's Wife Swap show last year, was heading home to her family and two part-time jobs in Rochdale.

She leaves nine former reality show stars to fight it out to be the last to be ousted from the Back To Reality house.

Spoon-bending I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! star Uri Geller left the house of his own accord at the weekend, leaving Big Brother's "Nasty" Nick Bateman to be the first to be voted out.

The 12 contestants entered the house on February 14 and whoever stays the course will remain until March 5 and scoop up to £75,000 for their chosen charity.

But the smoker mum who had so much to say on Wife Swap had so little to say in Back To Reality and was outshone by fellow contestants who include Big Brother's Jade Goody and The Salon's Ricardo Ribeiro.

The Foundation For The Study of Infant Deaths, a cot-death charity, would have benefited had she won.

But after the public failed to vote for her to stay her housemates were then given the option to vote her out, which they chose.

The nine remaining in the house are Josie D'Arby and James Hewitt of The Games, Sarah Kozer of Joe Millionaire, Driving School's Maureen Rees, Big Brother's Craig Phillips and Pop Idol's Rik Waller.

Five's Back To Reality features 12 celebrity contestants who have all appeared on previous reality shows, including Big Brother faces Jade Goody, Nasty Nick, and Craig Phillips.

Five has described Back to Reality as the "ultimate reality show" as it openly borrows aspects from every major reality programme.

But Endemol, which makes Big Brother, has written to Five's lawyers after identifying similarities between the shows.

The letter warns that it is keeping an eye on Five's show, although it does not go as far as launching legal action.

A spokeswoman for Endemol in the Netherlands said: "There has been a letter sent from our side to Five to object against Back to Reality, which is in our view a rip-off of Celebrity Big Brother.

"We are now considering our position."

A Five spokesman defended the show, saying: "We are confident Back to Reality does not infringe anyone else's format rights."

Five has spent £4.7 million on Back to Reality, making the show its costliest original commission.

The contestants - who have featured on the likes of I'm A Celebrity..Get Me Out of Here!, Big Brother, Wife Swap and Pop Idol, battle it out for £75,000 for charity in a studio mansion.

The 30-year-old Mysterious Girl singer will visit the studio mansion on Wednesday afternoon to set a new challenge for its guests.

Last night's Channel Five show saw jungle Queen Kerry McFadden take in her own challenge to the Back to Reality contestants, who have a week's grace before public voting begins.

The 23-year-old former Atomic Kitten star brought in a series of live grubs for the contestants to eat.

Big Brother loudmouth Jade Goody threw up at the sight of the bugs, but Pop Idol loser Rik Waller, Lizzy from Wife Swap and spoon-bender Uri Geller all gobbled the lot.

McFadden left the house, dubbed Beckingham Palace, a little the worse for wear after downing too much champagne and breaking a table.

Meanwhile, Jade has been holding an exercise class in the garden.

Jodie Marsh is also set to visit the guests - and will take a dip in the hot tub which the celebrities won after eating the grubs.

Producers sent the mansion celebrities to bed in the early hours after Big Brother's Nasty Nick smashed a table lamp in a fierce pillow fight.

Big Brother's first winner, Craig Phillips, is still favourite to win the show at 3-1, followed by royal "love rat" James Hewitt and Jade, both at 4-1.

Grasping a magnum of champagne, the former Atomic Kitten ordered curry for the Back to Reality celebrities and took in her own jungle challenge.

McFadden chose three celebrities to eat a series of live bugs - and if successful, they will earn a hot tub for the house.

But the 23-year-old seemed shocked to be back in front of the reality cameras: "I can't believe I've just come out the jungle and now I'm coming in here."

She dropped in on Five's studio mansion, where Nasty Nick and loudmouth Jade Goody from Big Brother as well as "love rat" James Hewitt are staying.

Her arrival was met with astonishment from the contestants - particularly Uri Geller, who said: "I can't believe it - in walks the most famous girl in the UK."

Craig Phillips, winner of the first Big Brother, added: "Back To Reality must be doing well if it can afford Kerry McFadden's appearance fees 'cos she's just won that other show."

Talking of her experience on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, McFadden said: "I didn't feel I deserved to win.

"I've watched a few of the shows ... I don't see what the big deal was - it's weird."

And she said she had spent very little time with her husband, Westlife star Bryan McFadden and their two daughters, Molly and Lilly. "I haven't had two minutes with Bryan to myself yet," she said. "But we're going to the Brits tomorrow."

The second episode attracted just 700,000 viewers despite a guest appearance by I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! winner Kerry McFadden.

Sunday night's debut attracted an audience of 1.8 million, reports Media Guardian.

The early evening episode of Back to Reality suffered from being up against EastEnders but it was also easily beaten by Channel 4's Salvage Squad, in which Madness's Suggs tried to mend a combine harvester.

Later on in the evening, the show picked up with a million viewers tuning in at 11pm, gaining a more respectable 11% share of the available audience.

Bosses had installed special custom-made furniture - but it still wasn't strong enough and he had to sleep on a reinforced sofa instead.

A show spokesman told the Daily Star: "We were told he was 28 stone. But then we found out he had put on weight. He is now between 30 and 31 stone.

"We had to get structural engineers in to see if the bed could hold the load, so to speak. It was a last-minute panic situation."

On the show, Jade Goody accused Rik of not trying hard enough during his Fit Club stint.

Rik insisted: "I'm happy with the way I am," but Jade responded: "You shouldn't say you're happy and this is how you have always been - because you were not born like that."

Twelve contestants who starred in former reality shows are competing to win £75,000 for charity.

The 23-year-old I'm A Celebrity winner is dropping in on Five's studio mansion, where the contestants include Nasty Nick and Jade Goody, from Big Brother.

Kerry will give the Back to Reality gang - who are cooped up for a week before public voting begins - tips on how to survive reality TV shows.

The stars are also being visited by Pop Idol rejects, including Eye of the Tiger singer Warren Wald, Hayley Keeton and Daniel Webster, who will start a karaoke game of reality TV tunes.

Today Playboy centrefold Sarah Kozer gave James a massage, while Josie D'Arby did the same for Big Brother's first winner Craig Phillips after he stripped down to just his pants.

Meanwhile Lizzy Bardsley, who was criticised when she appeared on Wife Swap for drawing thousands of pounds of benefits, is in for a surprise. Producers have arranged for Emma Spry, the mother she swapped homes with on Wife Swap, to visit the house - and the two will embark on a fight for charity.

A spokeswoman for the show said: "We have no idea how Lizzy is going to react to this. Sparks were flying when they last appeared together and now they will have to go head to head."

Craig is favourite to win the show at 3-1, followed by James and Jade at 4-1, according to bookmakers Ladbrokes.

The celebrities, which include Big Brother's Jade Goody, Ricardo from The Salon, Pop Idol loser Rik Waller and "love rat" James Hewitt from The Games, have all appeared in former reality shows.

Today is the first time they have met as a group and Back to Reality producers are spicing up their night with a special Valentine's party - complete with lobster, caviar, champagne and chocolate body paint.

The group, which also includes Nasty Nick and Craig Phillips from Big Brother, and Uri Geller and model Catalina from I'm A Celebrity, were kept in a secret location last night.

The bunch also includes Wife Swap mother Lizzy Bardsley, Maureen Rees from docusoap Driving School, Josie D'Arby from The Games and Playboy centrefold Sarah Kozer.

All the contestants will be searched - and a special eye will be kept on Nasty Nick who has been rumoured to be attempting to smuggle something in. They are allowed to bring one luxury item inside - as well as one bottle of wine each and five packets of cigarettes.

A spokeswoman for the show said surprise guests - including celebrities - will start to arrive soon after the group move in. In a surprise twist, Five's Back To Reality will also invite a member of the public to join them. The 12 contestants will battle it out in the house - where they will be deprived of real daylight - for the prize of £75,000 to give to charity.

The mansion guests will have a week before public voting begins and the most popular contestant will then decide which of the two least favourites gets the boot. Back to Reality starts on Sunday at 8pm on Five,

James Hewitt is second favourite at 5/1, while the likes of Sarah Kozer from Joe Millionaire, Catalina Guirado from I'm a celebrity, Ricardo from The Salon and Craig from Big Brother 1 are snapping at their heels.

Rik Waller from Pop Idol is considered the rank outsider at 25/1.

The remaining contestants were revealed earlier today. In a surprise twist, the show will also invite a member of the public to join the 12 celebrity contestants from past reality shows.

Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush said: "We had no choice but to make Jade the favourite, we underestimated her before and nearly lost a fortune.

"Kerry McFadden may be the queen of the jungle but Jade is the queen of reality tv and will take some beating."

But he added: "Bookmakers dismiss the chances of Rik Waller winning at 25/1. There's more

chance that he will throw a tantrum and storm out."

Ladbrokes' full odds are: Jade 4/1; James Hewitt 5/1; Sarah Kozer 6/1; Catalina, Ricardo and Craig 7/1; Uri 10/1; Lizzie (Wife Swap), Maureen and Nasty Nick 12/1; Josie 16/1; Rik Waller 25/1.

Back To Reality will throw together 12 favourites from past reality TV programmes.

Big Brother stars Jade Goody and "Nasty" Nick Bateman, Ricardo from The Salon, Pop Idol loser Rik Waller, James Hewitt from Channel 4's The Games and Sarah Kozer, a contestant on Joe Millionaire, are the first six to sign up.

The other six will be unveiled on February 14 when all 12 celebrities enter the Back To Reality mansion in west London. They will live together for three weeks and the winner will be crowned "most popular reality TV star ever", taking home £75,000 for their chosen charity.

Legendary fashion photographer David LaChapelle took these shots for a poster campaign to promote the show.

Motormouth Jade Goody goes all glam surrounded by half-naked paparazzi.

A wishful thinking Rik Waller puts his feet up in a private club adorned with his gold and platinum discs, as scantily-clad models serve up champagne and trays of doughnuts.

Nick Bateman poses on a bed with a six-foot python around his neck.

And hairdresser Ricardo looks more outrageous than ever in a sequinned catsuit and pink stiletto heels.

As with Big Brother, the contestants will be watched by the cameras 24 hours a day.

Over the three weeks they will compete against one another in a series of games and challenges. The celebrities will also face a public vote, with the least popular star being sent back to reality.

Hosted by Richard Bacon and Tess Daly, the show begins on Sunday February 15 and there will be two live shows each night.

The BBC's Diet Trials will follow 300 volunteers through six months spent on the Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Rosemary Conley and Dr Atkins diets.

Scientists at University of Surrey are co-ordinating the experiment with BBC cameras following the slimmers as they attempt to shed the pounds.

At the end of the six months the volunteers' weight and body fat will be measured, the results collated and the most effective diet revealed.

The BBC says it's the largest comparative study of its kind to be undertaken in Britain.

Twelve million Britons are currently thought to be on a diet, raking in profits of £12 billion a year for the weight loss industry.

Dr Helen Truby, one of the study's co-ordinators, hopes the findings will prove the effectiveness of diets for ordinary people.

She said: "The trial is supposed to be replicating what happens in the community, so we didn't intervene when the volunteers didn't stick to the plan all the time."

The 300 volunteers are all aged between 21 and 60. A total of 70% are women.

All were classed as overweight or obese at the beginning of the project by their Body Mass Index, which is calculated using a person's height and weight.

The eight personalities together shed 15 and a half stone, more than the starting weight of Ian McCaskill who was part of the six-month regime.

The stars go for their final weigh-in on the ITV1 show this Friday.

For each pound lost in weight, the stars raised £500 for their chosen charity giving a total of £105,000.

Individually the stars have lost between one and four stones, raising upwards of £7,500 each.

Viewers have already seen the most dramatic weight loss in Coleman who has shifted more than three stones.

They were subjected to tailor-made diet and fitness plans under a team of experts, including fitness guru Harvey Walden and This Morning's in-house doctor Chris Steele.

They all continued with the programme except Pop Idol contestant Rik Waller who was seen exiting the series last week.

The DJ has lost four stone during filming of the ITV show and now weighs less than 18 stone.

Coleman, who works for radio station Heart 106.2, says the weight is still falling off - and he won't stop until he has reached 15 stone.

The ten-part series features celebrities including Rik Waller, Ann Widdecombe and Jono Coleman on their quest to lose weight.

It was easily beaten by the new series of Robert Lindsay's sitcom My Family on BBC1, which was seen by 7.9 million viewers.

On Saturday night, the return of Silent Witness attracted 7.3 million viewers - nearly a million more than ITV's celebrity version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Popstars drew in 6.6 million, more than one in three viewers at 7pm.

The fat Pop Idol wannabe, left, was told to shape up or get out after he rebelled against his eating plan.

He left, which may mean the Childline charity he is supporting could get less cash. An insider said: “His attitude stinks, he had several warnings but he failed to play the game.

“The only person he is cheating is himself. We told him to leave or be booted out. He walked.” Rik, who weighs 31st, was put on a no-carb diet but has been seen with pizza and doughnuts.

He will not appear in the last episode of the programme’s ten-week run, which starts on ITV tonight. It sees eight tubby celebs including ANN WIDDECOMBE and JONO COLEMAN try to lose weight.

He has shed more than two stone while taking part in ITV1's Celebrity Fit Club.

Viewers will see Ian reach his 13 stone target after weeks of intensive training on the show, in which he also gives up alcohol.

The ten-part series begins on September 27, and also features celebrities including Rik Waller, Ann Widdecombe, Ground Force's Tommy Walsh, Coleen Nolan and Family Affairs' Nicola Duffett.

The former Pop Idol contestant is taking part in ITV's new series of Celebrity Fit Club, and has been told he has to lose 17 stone.

He was shocked to find he weighed 31 stone when he stepped on the scales at the start of the show.

The ten-part series begins on ITV on September 27 and also features celebrities including Ann Widdecombe, Ground Force's Tommy Walsh, Coleen Nolan and Family Affairs' Nicola Duffett.

The Pop Idol finalist will join players at Gillingham.

It's part of his weight-watching campaign for the new ITV show Celebrity Fit Club starting next month.

Rik Waller is joined by the likes of Coleen Nolan and Ann Widdecombe in the gruelling fitness regime, to try to lose weight.

It was reported that 20-stone Rik has actually gained weight despite being told to cut out fatty foods.

But ITV is refusing to comment on the reports because it doesn't want to spoil the show for viewers.

The 10-part series will be screened on ITV1 from the end of September.

A spokeswoman told Ananova: "The programme is filmed over six months so we don't want to spoil things for viewers by revealing how the celebrities are getting on."

He has responded to the story that Pop Idol US has employed psychiatrists to counsel contestants who have been insulted by Simon Cowell .

Big Rik says Cowell is an "ageing, untalented attention seeker."

"It doesn't surprise me that Simon Cowell has made himself so unpopular in the US", he says.

"He's just an ageing, untalented attention seeker who is trying to develop a new career based on slagging people off who are talented and brave enough to get up and perform in front of an audience.

"I'm surprised nobody has punched his lights out but if they did they'd have to stand behind me in the queue. I suppose any punch would be below the belt given the ridiculous way he wears his trousers."

Rik releases his new single Something Inside So Strong on Monday.

H and Claire, Blue and Liberty X are also set to play the charity fundraiser.

It will take place on July 13 and 14 at the Royal Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet.

All money raised will go towards ChildLine.

More acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Rik will star in a concert for Royal Marines at Bagram air base on June 2.

He has recently finished filming the video for his second single in New York.

The single is a cover version of Something Inside So Strong.

Comedian Jim Davidson, who runs the British Forces Foundation charity, says he would also be willing to fly to Bagram and do a free show for the troops.

Rik says he is happy to let record-buyers judge his talent.

Cowell says Rik would be "booted out" or "sent to the nearest doughnut store" if he tried to enter the US version of Pop Idol.

Rik refused to be drawn into a slanging match after Cowell's outburst.

He said: "I am a bit stunned by Simon's comments. I have only ever asked audiences to judge me on my singing voice.

Cowell is currently judging American Idol, which he describes as "even madder than the UK".

Big Rik said he was considering turning up at the auditions to spite Cowell.

Cowell famously told him he was too fat to be a Pop Idol.

But Cowell told Ananova: "If Big Rik does turn up he wouldn't get in the show because he isn't good enough. He had a good voice but he stuck out because he was fat and he knows that.

"After seeing him in his first video, it was like a horror movie. He'll be asked to go back to England or I'll send him down to the nearest doughnut shop."

Simon says that as well as witnessing some of the worst auditions of his life in the show, he has been propositioned by a Las Vegas showgirl.

"For me it's been a bit of a culture shock. They are mad over there. The good are fantastic and the bad go beyond appalling.

"Producers made notes on one contestant which just said 'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god'. It was the most extraordinary version of Lady Marmalade I've ever heard in my life. I said 'Phone your lawyer and sue your singing teacher because that is the worst audition I have ever ever heard'.

"I also had an interesting conversation with a Las Vegas showgirl who was prepared to go the extra nine yards to get through to the next round. I would have done but the producers said 'no'."

Simon also confirmed he will return for the new series of Pop Idol in the UK, but only if Pete Waterman agrees to join him.

He said: "There will be another series. If Pete agrees to it then it will go ahead. I wouldn't do it without him in the UK - it just wouldn't be the same. But I think he will agree to do it."

Cowell famously told Rik he was "too fat to be an idol."

Rik, who is in New York to record a cover version of Something Inside So Strong, says he might go along and audition just to see Cowell's face.

Record company executive Cowell is helping to judge the US show, called American Idol: The Search for a Superstar, which is to be screened on the Fox network in the summer.

Rik says he is sad that his relationship with Cowell soured after he was forced to quit the show because of throat problems.

He said: "Every time I see him I go up to him and say, 'How's you doing, Simon', shake his hand and be really nice to him.

"I think that is the thing that annoys him more than anything, the fact that I'm not nasty to him when he would so love to get that reaction."

Rik is hoping to break into the American market after having a top 10 hit with his UKdebut single, I Will Always Love You.

He said: "The US is anybody's territory. You've just got to make sure you do it right. There are many British bands who haven't made it in the United Kingdom but are massive in America.

"I think I have the tools to break the American market. One thing that is becoming increasingly more evident across the world is that people aren't bothered about plastic pop stars - the ones who care more about their looks than their voice."

The 20-stone singer says he wholeheartedly supports the walk around Faversham in Kent.

But he is not doing the 12 miles himself next month.

The 20-year-old is set to join a celebrity version of TV's Fat Club, and has been spotted working out in a London park.

The Pop Idol finalist will be among the stars trying to lose weight over six months for the ITV programme.

Tommy Walsh from Ground Force will also take part.

Rik's cover version of I Will Always Love You even failed to break the top five as it pitched in at number six as the highest new entry.

Instead the phenomenal sales of Anything Is Possible/Evergreen continued as the top three records in the chart remained the same with Shakira and Enrique Iglesias occupying numbers two and three.

Meanwhile, Westlife's former number one World Of Our Own was edged to number seven and Kylie Minogue's In Your Eyes was pushed out of the top 10.

Other high new entries included The World's Greatest by R Kelly at 10 and Caramel by City High at nine.

Earlier this week, Rik admitted that it may have been a mistake to release his single after Will's song had rocketed to number one. But the 20-year-old remained upbeat saying the ground is now prepared for further chart success.

"I am more than happy with number six, to get to number one with a debut single is not that often heard of, apart from Westlife and Will," he said.

"I just love the fact that I am in the charts and that people can now go out and buy my record.

"The chances of me having another hit are now strengthened because it is at number six and is the highest new entry."

The Pop Idol finalist told Ananova he's got offers from 60 or 70 songwriters wanting to write material for him.

He hopes to have his first album in the shops as early as May.

Rik told Ananova: "Gary Barlow is writing me some songs. He's a brilliant songwriter and I'd love to sing his tunes.

"There are about 60 or 70 songwriters I've met who are prepared to write songs for me.

"There are a lot of other famous ones but I can't tell you who they are yet."

Rik's debut single, a cover or Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You, is on course to be a new entry in the top 10 this weekend.

He said his next single should be out in May, with his debut album following two weeks later.

"The LP is going to be a fusion of styles, sounds and influences, lots of old songs and maybe some new ones written in a classic style," said Rik.

Rik criticised the way Will Young's management had handled the row over the Pop Idol winner's appearance on Top Of The Pops.

"They have shot themselves in the foot. They can't afford to upset Top Of The Pops," he said.

"It's a shame some of it will be blamed on Will. It's a record-breaking single and there should be some concessions made."

The Pop Idol finalist sang his debut single I Will Always Love You and presented her with a bouquet for Mother's Day.

Mrs Waller thought she was being invited to a restaurant to be interviewed about her son.

But he surprised her by arriving on the back of a truck singing his version of the Dolly Parton song.

The Pop Idol singer will be performing his new single, a cover of I Will Always Love You, as part of the Reaching Out For Africa concert.

Waller's debut single is set to enter the UK top 10 on Sunday, according to midweek sales figures.

He told The Daily Express: "When I was asked to appear at the Royal Albert Hall I though 'Wow, what an opportunity'. It's something I dreamed of and it's very exciting.

"To sing with Cliff Richard, Gabrielle, Boney M and others is a great opportunity. I respect them all."

The concert will help raise funds to build medical clinics in the fight against Aids and Malaria in Africa.

Donations to the Support For Africa fun can be made by phoning 0208 675 7742.

His debut single Evergreen/Anything Is Possible sold nearly 100,000 copies over Sunday and Monday.

Former Pop Idol rival Rik Waller looks likely to debut at number eight with his cover of I Will Always Love You.

But Waller has admitted it was a mistake to release his debut single with Will Young still basking in the glory of his record-breaking number one.

"I'd like to think I'd got a chance - but looking realistically it was the wrong week to release," he told Virgin Radio.

"I don't think I'd want a number one with my first song - maybe a top 10. I'd rather start in the middle and work up than start at the top where the only way is down."

He says he's emerged with more confidence than he had before the show, despite comments about his size.

Talking on Richard & Judy, he says he's now hoping his single, a version of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, will reach number one.

"My single is out on March 4, just in time for Mother's Day, and what an amazing song for Mother's Day," he said.

"It would be beyond my wildest dreams if it got to number one. If the spot is available I certainly would like it."

He said he wanted to leave Pop Idol the first week he had problems with his throat.

"If I had recovered, I did not want people to say I had a week off and 'that's why he got as far as he did'," he added.

On Will winning he said: "I said from day one Will would win. I can spot talent from a long way off."

The contestant won a £400,000 record deal after he was forced to leave the show with a sore throat.

He has just finished recording a cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You.

He denies he signed a contract forbidding contestants to release records until three months after the end of the show.

Rik claims he has received a letter from Thames Television threatening legal action, but has responded by saying: "Go ahead, make my day."

The 20-year-old, who was forced to pull out of the contest with a throat infection, has signed a £400,000 record deal with EMI and plans to release his first single next month.

Rik, from Gillingham, in Kent, said: "They've sent me a threatening letter saying that if I continue to disobey the terms of the contract they will take legal action.

"But I didn't sign the final 10 contract, which was the only one legally binding. The way I see it I'm not under any obligation whatsoever. When I received the letter I thought, 'go ahead, make my day'."

Rik plans to release a version of I Will Always Love You, a hit for Whitney Houston, on March 4 - a week after the planned release date for the Pop Idol winner's first single release.

He said: "We are going to knock them off top spot."

Steve Pritchard, director of EMI records, said: "We've had no contact with Thames TV but we are expecting a letter from them. Rik's single will be out on March 4 and will be number one on Mothers' Day on March 10."

A spokesman for Thames Television says it is too early to say whether legal action will be taken.

Bookmakers Paddy Power believe the record is certain to be a number one hit.

The same bookie rates former Pop Idol contestant Rik Waller a 4/1 chance of making the top five with his debut solo single.

Rik is set to go head-to-head with the Pop Idol winner, with his cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You due to be released around the same time as the reality TV show victor's first single.

Paddy Power, Operations Executive, said: "The support the remaining guys on Pop Idol have been receiving is quite simply phenomenal.

"Over three million viewers are voting every week so Rik will once again have a lot on his plate to beat them to number one."

He also thinks Rik Waller faked illness to get public sympathy as he launches a solo career.

He says Rik should lose some weight because the public don't want "lardy" stars.

Speaking to Hot Stars magazine, Dr Fox said: "Gareth really stuck in my head mainly because he had a stammer and then sang like angel.

"If he wasn't so pretty and didn't have a stammer, I don't think he'd be where he is."

Asked about Rik, he said: "He made it through to the last ten and should count his lucky stars.

"I think he should lose some weight - for his own benefit and for his health. People don't want someone as big and lardy as him.

"When Rik was 'unable' to speak, he still appeared capable of talking to his parents. I think he was putting it on to make everybody feel sorry for 'poor Rik' and that's how he's going to launch his career."

He is scheduled to release his first single on May 4.

It will be a cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You.

Rik's recording deal is expected to bring an unfavourable reaction from Pop Idol bosses.

He signed a contract banning contestants from releasing songs for three months after the series ends.

He admits he has a "bit of a thing" about fat people.

Cowell says he also thought Gary Barlow was too fat to be a star.

Rik believes William will go on to win the show.

He also thinks bookies' favourite Gareth Gates needs more power in his voice if he's going to make it as a pop artist.

Rik, who was forced to pull out of the competition with a throat infection, told Heat magazine: "The person who has impressed me most as a character, as a voice and as a talent is Will Young.

"I wouldn't say I'd like him to win because I'd like everyone to win, but I think he will win."

Rik thinks Gareth Gates has got the right image to attract young people, but doubts his voice is strong enough.

"If Gareth wants to win this or establish himself as a successful artist, he's got to get a bit more power in his voice," he said. "Some weeks he has severely let himself down."

Despite losing out in Pop Idol, Rik is optimistic about keeping himself in the spotlight in 2002.

"I could be the biggest hit of 2002, I could be the biggest flop of 2002, you never know. The most important thing is staying in the spotlight and I'm definitely going to make a big splash.

"You cannot sweep me under the carpet - whatever happens there's going to be a bloody big lump."

But the singer must now face another wait to find out whether his voice has been permanently affected.

Throat surgeon Dr John Rubin told 20-year-old Rik he was free to sing again and pursue his career after signing up with agent Jonathan Shalit, who formerly managed Charlotte Church.

But the surgeon told Shalit he still had concerns about the singer, saying that while the larynx was no longer inflamed and his speaking range is back to normal, the voice had weakened when he went into the upper range.

The surgeon has recommended that Rik - who was forced to drop out of ITV's Pop Idol show because of the throat infection - work with vocal coach Mark Maylan to analyse the strength of his voice.

Mr Shalit said the problems may have been building up before the throat infection struck. He said: "Rick developed bad habits in the past and this is part of the reason behind the problems.

"During the competition he had to sing day after day and vocally he didn't have the strength. He was pushing the voice. That is why his surgeon suggested a vocal person who could help adjust the problems. The illness has gone but he will work with a top vocal coach to make sure the problems don't occur again."

But the agent believes despite the setbacks his new protege will go straight to the top and more importantly, will last the course, despite being told by judge Simon Cowell he was "too fat to be a Pop Idol".

Mr Shalit said Rik had received firm offers from three record companies and that they would make a decision on which one to go with next week.

He said Rik would soon begin recording and expects an album or single to be released in March. The agent is currently selecting material and has hired producers Denis Ingoldsby and Chris Porter to work with Rik who he says will almost certainly record Try a Little Tenderness, the song which saw him go through to the second round of Pop Idol.

He will sit on the panel in Lorraine Kelly's new Search For A Star Chef slot on Friday.

Each week cooks eager to become the next Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson will appear on her Sky One show.

The panel this week will also include celebrity chef Aldo Zilli and Fiona Lindsay from a TV chef agency.

Rik, who was forced to quit Pop Idol after contracting a serious throat infection, says he is looking forward to being the judge rather than the judged.

The 20-year-old, who began training as a chef when he first left school, says he will be as critical as he needs to be with the culinary contestants.

"What I will be looking for is someone with a big personality, who makes good food, can handle fame and will not crack under pressure. The size of the portions will also be a factor with me," he said.

As for his own kitchen skills, Rik added: "I love cooking but just hate having to do the washing up afterwards."

His agent Jonathan Shalit says he will "ignore" a contract preventing him from signing a record deal until May.

All the Pop Idol hopefuls were asked to sign the contract before they agreed to take part in the show.

"As far as I am concerned, it is invalid so I am just going to ignore it. You can't stop someone doing their trade," Mr Shalit said.

The agent, who is also Charlotte Church's ex-manager, is currently selecting material and has hired producers Denis Ingoldsby and Chris Porter to work with Rik.

A spokeswoman for Pop Idol said: "It would be very disappointing if Rik chose not to stick to the contract that he agreed to."

But Rik said: "The thing that I want to get across is that I am not in competition with the winner of Pop Idol. On the contrary... maybe in the future there could be some sort of collusion if the record companies will allow it.

"This is going to be done in the same way as everything else has been done - in very friendly terms.

"My singles are going to be pop with a large amount of soul, while their single will probably be pure pop."

Rik, from Gillingham, Kent, was famously told by Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell that he was "too fat to be an idol". However, he still made it to the final round of the show before a throat infection ruled him out of the competition.

The singer's dad Kris says there is a chance of the pair working together in the future.

Rik is recovering from his sore throat and is aiming to play a gig on New Year's Eve.

He was forced to withdraw from Pop Idol due to a throat infection.

He is hoping to release his first single in the New Year but is still seeking a management deal.

Rik was forced to pull out of the show after failing to recover from a throat infection.

His replacement Darius Danesh survived the public vote on Saturday.

Rik told GMTV: "I've had a taste of fame now and I want to have it again. I want to top the charts, it's something I've always dreamed of.

"I may even release a charity single, you never know."

He also says he's not surprised Robbie Williams has clinched the Christmas number one this year.

"Robbie's got the full package, he's a true performer."

He is preparing to replace finalist Rik Waller, who looks likely to drop out with a sore throat.

Rik will see a throat specialist later today to decide if he is fit enough for the second heat of the finals.

A spokeswoman for Pop Idol said although Darius had been rehearsing, it was still hoped Rik might be well enough for Saturday's show.

She told Ananova: "We've had to have Darius in the studio to practice because it wouldn't be fair to give him only a couple of days practice if Rik isn't better.

"But as far as production goes we're hoping that Rik will be well enough to perform on Saturday. He's got an appointment with the voice specialist later and we want to give him every chance."

The second heat of the Pop Idol final will see the remaining nine contestants performing individual Christmas songs.

The identity of the songs is being kept secret.

He says he now needs a miracle to overcome his sore throat.

That means Darius is likely to return for the second part of the ITV show's final.

He is spending the week at home in Kent resting his voice.

Rik had to watch the first heat of the final from the studio canteen because of the problem.

Producers are giving Rik the chance to re-enter the final of the ITV show this week if he is better.

It was thought the contestant would have to pull out altogether after losing his voice.

But after consulting a throat specialist, Rik has announced he might be fit enough to perform on the ITV show next week.

It means there will only be nine contestants in the first of Pop Idol's 10 final heats this Saturday.

A Pop Idol spokeswoman told Ananova they want to give Rik every chance. She said: "If Rik rests his voice he may be all right to continue. He's very hoarse and need to rest. I'd say it's 50/50.

"It means there will be only nine contestants in this week's heat. It's unfortunate but the only way to do it."

If Rik is not well enough to perform the following week, he will be replaced by Darius Danesh, who came third in Rik's round of auditions.

Rik said: "I am absolutely over the moon. It's good to be given the chance to get better so I can show people what I can do." And in a joking reference to the 1970s rocking toys, he added: "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down."

Darius said: "Rik's a tremendous guy and I'm really, really sorry to hear he's too ill to perform on this Saturday's show.

"I'm happy to be Rik's stand-in if his illness persists. We get on really well. I'm sure he'll get enough rest to put him back on his feet and entertain us with that voice of his."