Kaiser Chiefs star Ricky Wilson to join Bill Bailey for Extraordinary Portraits
Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson is joining the fifth series of BBC Arts’ Extraordinary Portraits.
Ricky Wilson is to join Bill Bailey for BBC Arts’ Extraordinary Portraits.
The Kaiser Chiefs frontman and former art teacher, 48, will appear as a celebrity artist in the fifth series of the BBC One programme, which returns this spring and will again culminate in a public exhibition following a sold-out showcase in Bradford during its UK City of Culture celebrations.
Speaking with the BBC, Ricky said: “I was delighted to get the call from Bill and jumped at the chance to join the Extraordinary Portraits family.
“Art has always been close to my heart, and it’s now great to be putting my experience to the test.”
Ricky - best known for hits including I Predict a Riot - previously taught art at Leeds College of Art and Design before finding chart success with Kaiser Chiefs, and his return to the easel marks a full-circle moment in his creative career.
He added: “I’m also really pleased that we’re announcing the new series in Bradford. Growing up in West Yorkshire gave me a love of creativity, humour and community, and seeing the city buzzing with culture over the past year has made me prouder than ever.
“I can’t wait for people to see the incredible talent on display.”
Hosted by comedian and musician Bill, 61, Extraordinary Portraits pairs members of the public with extraordinary life stories with some of the UK’s most accomplished portrait artists, who attempt to capture not just a likeness but the emotional depth behind each sitter’s journey.
Bill said in his own statement: “It’s wonderful to be back on the show and to see our crack team of artists pouring everything they have into the work, and the sitters putting their trust in them and really opening up.
“The results are extraordinarily powerful and incredibly moving and in this series I think we see what portraiture is really capable of.”
This year’s sitters include a civil servant who helped stop a terrorist attack, sisters who made medical history when one gave birth using the other’s womb, a grandmother competing in Ironman competitions in her 80s, a survivor of the Post Office scandal who was imprisoned while pregnant, and young brothers living with early-onset frontotemporal dementia.
Suzy Klein, Head of BBC Arts and Classical Music TV, said: “Uplifting and moving stories are the beating heart of Extraordinary Portraits with Bill Bailey and this series yet again foregrounds the incredible tenacity, bravery and generosity which make our sitters everyday heroes.
“It’s wonderful that their achievements will also now be recognised through portraiture.
“For this series we are delighted to welcome Ricky Wilson as our very accomplished celebrity artist, and we yet again have the perfect host in Bill, who has assembled a family of artists from across the UK who connect perfectly with the people they’re painting and sculpting, while also providing creative support to one another.”
