The X Factor star Chico Slimani says he's clawed his way back from financial ruin after falling victim to an investment con.
The Bridgend born former singer became a household name after reaching the quarter-final stage of Simon Cowell's ITV talent show in 2005, scoring a number one hit with debut single It's Chico Time the following year.
But time appeared to be called on Slimani's short-lived music career when the hits dried up and his last single, a charity collaboration with the Rainbow Child Foundation, failed to chart following its release in 2010.
Famed for his athletic physique, Slimani, 54, subsequently ploughed his money into a Middle Eastern investment scheme, centred on his passion for health and fitness - only to be left penniless.
He told The Sun: 'It was a natural transition because I've been in the health and fitness industry all my life really at one time or another. As I was younger, I was into martial arts and I wanted to do natural bodybuilding. And then after that, it was always about looking after your health.'
'It's about getting the right knowledge as to how your body works, how your mind works, and how you can become the best version of yourself.'
'So it started actually with my first creation at the end of 2014. And that was at a time where we invested money, lots of friends of ours, in Dubai.
'And unfortunately we got conned and we lost everything. And then it was a case of like, "Okay, you've obviously got a bigger plan for me type of thing". I always thought, all right, that wasn't meant to be.'
Slimani eventually returned to the health industry with BlockFit, a combination of dance moves, combat, yoga and meditation - carried out to original music.
The exercise method became a hit, with BlockFit incorporated into all 69 of former Dragon's Den businessman Duncan Bannatyne's gyms until the coronavirus pandemic forced most businesses to close.
The impact of the global pandemic would not only take a financial toll, but a personal one, as Slimani lost more than one friend under the age of 50 to suicide as the world ground to a halt.
The former X Factor star has since channeled his energies into helping people with issues including depression and anxiety with their breathwork.
After offering his services online for free, Slimani has turned the endeavour into a successful business by hosting retreats all over the world.
'It was really amazing to see people come as one person laden with troubles, worries, anxieties, all sorts of stuff, and then walking away as a totally different person with tools that they could use for their everyday,' said Slimani, whose breathwork retreats have taken him to Bali, Thailand, Cyprus, Croatia and Morocco.
In December, Slimani appeared in court to deny drink driving - blaming cough medicine for failing a breathalyser test.
The former singer came in at just one microgram over what usually results in a prosecution when he was stopped by police on Chase Way, Barnet on December 13, Willesden magistrates' court heard on December 30.
The court heard medication such as cough medicine can affect the way that alcohol readings are recorded by a breathalyser test and the defence would be instructing a toxicologist as an expert witness to carry out a calculation and provide scientific evidence.
Slimani will return to the same court on April 9 for his four-hour trial and granted him unconditional bail.
The magistrate told him: 'If you fail to attend, the trial can go ahead in your absence and almost certainly a warrant would be issued for your immediate arrest.'
Chico released It's Chico Time in February 2006; it became a UK number one hit and stayed at the top for two weeks.
He became the first X Factor runner-up to have his debut single peak at number one.