Forever Young
Will Young tells MARION MCMULLEN that, 20 years on, he still owes a debt to Pop Idol and why recording an album at home with his dogs was ‘the dream’
YOUNG is already planning ahead for next year and the 20th anniversary of winning TV singing contest Pop Idol.
“It changed my life, it really did” he says, “it was the public that gave my career, not record companies and that means a lot.”
Wokingham-born Will was the victor of the ITV music competition in 2002 after he beat Gareth Gates in the public vote, with 4.6 million viewers calling in their support.
It was the first step on a long career which has seen him make his mark as an activist, author, singer, songwriter, radio presenter, DJ and performer.
He’s also proved his acting talent, appearing alongside Dame Judi Dench in the movie Mrs Henderson Presents and ITV whodunnit Marple and was nominated for an Olivier award for his role in the stage production of Cabaret.
“I forget a lot of the things I have done,” he admits. “I look back sometimes and think ‘Did I do that?’
“There have been so many brilliant things – performing with James Brown, getting a thank-you note from Mrs Henderson Presents director Stephen Frears... Cabaret.
“Sometimes though it is not the big things, but the little things that matter most.”
Will, 42, is looking at major tour dates for the anniversary year of Pop Idol, but will also be performing some intimate concert dates this September. “Just to dip my toe in the water again,” he smiles.
The September dates follow the release of his new album Crying On The Bathroom Floor, which celebrates female singers with Will’s take on songs like Missing by Everything But The Girl, Elizabeth Taylor originally sung by Clare Maguire and London Grammar hit Strong.
“This is not a covers album as such, well certainly not in the standard way. I wanted to bring songs from female artists who I admire into a new arena,” says Will.
“I’ve always enjoyed singing other people’s songs. There is a liberation to it. It’s how I feel when I approach a script. I have reverence for the piece of art and the artist who created it.”
Will recorded the album at home, with his dogs making their presence felt with the odd bark and even loud snoring.
“I’ve no carpets, just wooden floors, so you could hear them when they ran across. The dogs could be problematic! Paws and claws on wooden floors are not conducive to making a record.
“I think it has allowed me to be even more focused and more content in the whole process.
“Other than that it was just like recording normally ... but I didn’t have to leave home,” he laughs.
“I mean, for someone who is agoraphobic, not having to travel is the dream.”
Will has also been busy writing during lockdown following the sucWILL cess of his book To Be A Gay Man which discussed gay shame, revealing the impact it had on his own life, how he learned to deal with it, and how he can now truthfully say he is gay and happy.
“I always knew it was going to be niche writing about gay shame, but it should be in every school, in every library.”
Will is busy writing two books at the moment – a wellbeing tome and a novel that he hopes could be turned into a movie.
But he admits he is not always very disciplined when it comes to getting his ideas down in black and white.
“I’m so lazy,” he wails, “and a lot of it is fear. I have that with writing and I have that with writing lyrics as well. I blame revision at school, I blame exams, I never wanted to get down to revising for exams.
“It’s just the same fear really. You just have to get over that hurdle and get something down.
“Sometimes it flows and other times it doesn’t at all. I wrote 400 words the other day, but then I can write 1,000 words and it’s just a delight.
“I don’t know where the writing is going, but it’s fun. I like writing with humour. I just make myself giggle. It’s a nice thing to do – writing things that are funny.
“Humour is one of the best forces of mindfulness if you are feeling stressed or stressful. Humour is an amazing way of staying calm.
“My job is absolutely bonkers, but most people’s jobs are, and I love to find the funny things around me every day.
“The most tragic moments of my life have also been the most funny.”
Crying On The Bathroom Floor is released on Friday via Cooking Vinyl with UK live shows in September. Go to willyoung. co.uk for details