Interview with Rick Astley

Rick Astley has stepped in to replace the recently jailed Boy George on The Here & Now Tour which comes to the Arena in May. "At least he's a proper pop star," he tells SIMON WILSON

HE has been ski-ing in Zurich for a few days when we catch up but Rick Astley hasn't slipped back in to retirement.

That was in 1993 after he'd enjoyed six years of hits, starting with Never Gonna Give You Up which bolted from the Stock Aitken And Waterman stable to the top of the UK charts. It also toped the US chart.

Other hits included When I Fall in Love and Together Forever.