'All that's gone is the chinos!' Strictly viewers are left stunned by the youthful looks of Eighties pop star Rick Astley saying 'he hasn't aged a day'

Singer, who turned 50 earlier this year, performed his new song on Strictly
Astley was huge in early 90s and his pop tunes have become cult classics
...but viewers were more fixated by how well the star has aged
One viewer suggested he might have been 'preserved in formaldehyde'

Published: 10:57 GMT, 21 November 2016 | Updated: 12:03 GMT, 21 November 2016

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For pop fans of a certain vintage, Rick Astley will forever be wearing a quiff and cream chinos.

However, as his performance on Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing revealed, time has been kind to the former Stock, Aitken and Waterman singer.

Viewers tuning into the results show on BBC1 were left aghast at Astley's apparent youthful looks, despite him turning 50 earlier this year.

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Has Rick Astley found the elixir of youth? Strictly viewers were left staggered by the youthful looks of the former 80s pop star after he appeared on the results show yesterday

Real-life Dorian Gray? Rick in a recent pose after turning 50 this year and right, in his early twenties during the height of his pop fame

What's his secret: Strictly viewers took to Twitter to express their surprise at Astley's fresh-faced look

The soulful star, who enjoyed a string of hits in the late eighties and early nineties, is enjoying something of a renaissance and appeared just before the dance off last night to perform new single Dance.

Last night's tense results show saw Greg Rutherford eliminated after a dance off with Claudia Fragapane. Meanwhile Ed Balls jived his way into the last six after once again getting the public's vote.

While Astley's aptly-titled song seemed to be hit and miss with armchair viewers, most of those commenting on Twitter appeared to agree that Astley, who hit the big time nearly 30 years ago when Never Gonna Give You Up went to number one in 25 countries, has aged remarkably well.

One viewer, @onyablue, questioned whether Astley had 'a photo in the attic', a reference to Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, where the central character doesn't age after selling his soul.

Others were more forthright; @MrsLennonN wrote: 'Goddamn Rick Astley's aged well!'

‏@VanessaFleming agreed, asking: 'Why hasn't Rick Astley aged?'

Astley, who's latest album has received good reviews, appeared on Strictly to perform his new single Dance

Some viewers questioned whether he'd been pickled or frozen in time

‏@KylieEvans1 added: 'So apparently Rick Astley hasn't aged in the last 20 years. I need some of what he's having!'

@rundgren3 quipped: Rick Astley has hardly aged..amazing..all that's gone is the Chinos! (Still got mine)

‏@LadyJulieM was equally keen, saying: 'Rick Astley doesn't seem to have aged *must get his secret*'

@kirstwrites joked: 'Blimey, has Rick Astley been preserved in formaldehyde since since the late 1980s? Hasn't aged a day.'

The star's latest album, 50, which he produced and wrote alone has received good reviews from critics.

Rick re-birth: After nearly two decades out of the limelight, the millennial prank of Rick-rolling - sending what looks like an important link to someone only to push them through to Astley's biggest hit - has seen his profile rise again

The star, who hit the big time in the late 80s enjoyed a string of hits under the guidance of pop factory Stock, Aitken and Waterman

Astley might have faded completely into obscurity were it not for the phenomena of 'Rick-rolling', basically sending a person a link to something that appears interesting or relevant and then pushing them through to the video for 'Never Gonna Give You Up.'

The trick became so popular with US millennials that it brought Astley fame across the pond and in 2008, Astley participated in the first live Rickroll at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.