Ricky Wilson (singer)

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]

Wilson performing with Kaiser Chiefs in July 2013

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. It is popularly believed that he had a cameo as Dirk Cresswell, but Wilson himself has denied this, saying the character identified as Dirk is in fact played by an unnamed actor.[20] 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.[21] Wilson joined new radio station Radio X in September 2015 where he presented the Sunday morning show from 11 am to 2 pm. He left in 2017 due to other commitments[22]

In October 2015, Wilson became the host of Sky 1's music and comedy panel show Bring the Noise.[23] 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.[24] However, in April 2016, it was announced that the show had been cancelled after just one series due to declining ratings.[25]

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.

In 2020, Wilson used his art skills to present an art episode of CBBC series Celebrity Supply Teacher.

In 2021, he went on to host his own series on CBBC, Ricky Wilson’s Art Jam. The same year Wilson was also cast as the narrator in the UK animated show Dodo. Also in this year, BBC Radio 2 gave him his own series called Ricky Wilson's Rock And Roll Classics, which ran for two series in 2021 and 2022, and which featured Wilson playing his favourite songs from the 1950s and early 60s.[26][27]

In 2022, making use of his art background further he co-presented CBBC series Britain’s Best Young Artist alongside Vick Hope.

He became the host of the Virgin Radio UK Drivetime show on 9th January 2023.[28]