Noughties pop star unrecognisable 20 years after Fame Academy, Eurovision and blowing £100k in gambling addiction
NOUGHTIES pop star James Fox looks unrecognisable 20 years after Fame Academy, Eurovision and blowing £100k in a gambling addiction.
The Welsh singer, 47, shot to fame in 2003 when he took part in the BBC show Fame Academy.
James, who began his singing career aged 15, placed fifth in the competition when he was 27.
Then in 2004 he represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest.
The star performed Hold Onto Our Love, placing 16th in the singing competition.
He carried on with his singing career, releasing a number of singles including Hold Onto Our Love, Bluebirds Flying High, Higher, and more recently Hope.
He also released a studio album, Rocking Chairs And Lemonade, in 2008.
James has had huge success over the years, supporting the likes of Tina Turner, Natasha Bedingfield and Will Young.
He also dipped in toes in musical theatre.
However James has also gone through some tough times in his personal life.
According to WalesOnline, James has estimated that he has “blown more than £100,000 during a debilitating gambling addiction which sent him into pits of despair”.
However his wife Shannon, 30 – who he met on a cruise ship in 2016 – helped save him.
James was singing on board, while Shannon was a dancer and tied the knot last year.
“At the time she was a big driving factor in me wanting it all to be done. I had woken up to it and was getting as much help as I could,” James told the publication.
“But seeing a future for myself with somebody keeps you accountable.”