Kaiser Chiefs frontman to star in BBC art show

Ricky Wilson taught art at Leeds College of Art and Design before finding fame with his band

Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson will be showcasing his artistic side when he features in the latest series of BBC Arts show Extraordinary Portraits.

The show, hosted by comedian Bill Bailey, sees people with incredible stories have their portraits painted by artists.

Wilson, 48, has a master's degree in graphic design and taught art at Leeds College of Art and Design before finding fame in the 2000s.

The Leeds-born singer said: "Art has always been close to my heart, and it's now great to be putting my experience to the test."

Following a sold-out exhibition in Bradford in 2025 of portraits created for the show, the artworks produced in the new series will once again go on public view at the city's Loading Bay arts venue in May.

Wilson said: "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."

He is best known as the singer in rock band Kaiser Chiefs, who have had a string of hit singles, including Ruby and I Predict A Riot, and have won three Brit Awards across their two-decade career.

Speaking about the upcoming fifth season of the BBC Arts show, host Bailey, 61, said: "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."

'Uplifting and moving'

After a pop-up exhibition in the Loading Bay venue in Bradford last year to showcase the original works from the series, the BBC has said that the portraits from the forthcoming season will also go on public display.

Head of BBC Arts and Classical Music TV, Suzy Klein, 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."

She added: "It's wonderful that their achievements will also now be recognised through portraiture."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.