Fans of the 2006 series of The X Factor will no doubt remember Ray Quinn. The singer competed alongside eventual winner Leona Lewis and while he didn't win the series, he left as one of the most memorable cast members and has since gone on to other ventures.
So just what has Ray been up to all these years? We at Closer have done a deep dive into everything Ray has been up to since he left The X Factor in 2006.
Who is Ray Quinn?
Ray is an actor, singer and dancer from Knowsley. Before starring on The X Factor, Ray started out as an actor, playing Anthony Murray in the Channel 4 soap Brookside between 2000 and 2003.
Ray first achieved fame when he competed on The X Factor in 2006.
How old is Ray Quinn?
Ray was born on the 25th August 1988 meaning he is currently 33 years old. He was 18 when he competed on The X Factor.
How did Ray Quinn do on The X Factor?
Ray was a runner up on the third series of The X Factor in 2006. His incredible audition resulted in all three of the judges saying "yes". He went on to slip up at the Judges' House but a change in the series format meant he was given a second chance and was able to progress to the live shows.
Ray mostly performed in an old-school swing style on the shows but by the end of his time of the series, he had become a versatile singer able to also perform pop songs too.
He didn't win the show - losing out to Leona Lewis - but he still made quite a name from himself and he even secured a record deal with Simon Cowell's label SYCO two days after leaving the competition.
Was Ray Quinn on Dancing on Ice?
Three years after appearing on The X Factor, in 2009, Ray won the fourth series of Dancing on Ice alongside his partner, professional skater Maria Filippov. They beat Donal MacIntyre and Liberty X member Jessica Taylor.
Was Ray Quinn on Hollyoaks?
Ray joined Hollyoaks in November of 2018. He played the role of Jonny Baxter, an employee at The Bean and part of a right wing extremist group. He left the show in November 2019.
What else has Ray Quinn done?
The X Factor wasn't his only foray into reality TV. In 2009 he won Dancing on Ice and in 2015 he won Get Your Act Together. He has also gone to have a successful career in TV, music and theatre.
What's Ray Quinn doing now?
Ray released his second studio album, Undeniable, in 2020.
It seems that he has stopped working in showbiz for the time being and during lockdown he worked as a Hermes delivery driver.
He then announced in 2021 that he was pursuing a new career laying carpets at his family firm with his brothers Robin and Darren. His decision came shortly after his dad, also named Ray, died of cancer in 2020.
Last year, Ray spoke to The Mirror about his new job, saying, "My dad was a carpet fitter all his life. He taught my brothers how to do it.
"Dad knew I was going to help Rob and encouraged me to do it - but laughed when I said I'd lifted my first tool.
"When I first started, I actually went to work in my dad's old uniform. He'd always said you can work your way out of anything."
However it seems that singing is still Ray's passion and he made it clear in a recent Instagram post. Sharing a photo of himself on a cruise ship, he wrote, "Don’t believe everything you read about 'my new chosen career' I’m out here about to do my 5th show on this fantastic cruise! 👍🏻
"The same career I’ve give my all to for the last 23 years.. 🎙✌🏻💖 x".
Also check out his long hair and bushy beard... now there's a change and a half from his X Factor days.
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Does Ray Quinn have a girlfriend?
Ray Quinn was previously married to actress Emma Stephens but they got divorced in 2015.
In 2020, Ray announced his engagement to his girlfriend Emily Ashleigh. The pair are yet to tie the knot but they are still going strong and recently announced they're expecting their first child together.
Ray and Emily announced the news on Instagram by sharing a video of them dancing on stage in an empty theatre. At the end of the video the camera pans down to reveal Ray's hand on Emily's belly and an ultrasound picture of their baby.
Ray is also a dad to his son Harry, who had he with his ex-wife.
Does Ray Quinn have Instagram?
He does - you can follow him @rayquinn_uk.