Rik Waller signs contract with EMI

Former Pop Idol hopeful Rik Waller has signed a one-album contract with EMI worth £400,000 (€655,600).

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.

Waller said: "I think the contract I signed was unfair and I hope they don't try and stop me getting my share of success. For me, Pop Idol is dead and buried.

"It gave me a great platform but I discovered that as soon as you are not with them, you are against them."

A spokesman for EMI said: "Rik is a natural pop star - we look forward to helping him achieve his dream."