LIFE LESSONS

Singer, author & presenter

Will Young

Following the release of his book, To Be a Gay Man, Will Young is back with new album, Crying on the Bathroom Floor, out now, featuring reimagined versions of songs from female artists such as Robyn, Sky Ferreira and Solange. (In case you were wondering, the last time Will, 42, cried was when he was meditating; humming triggers his tear ducts.) Catching up on a video call, the singer reflects on his life’s journey so far — including the biggest obstacle he has faced. “I tried the high jump once,” he quips. “But I never overcame that, I just ran — doink — into the bar.” After that answer, Will, you should, ahem, Leave Right Now…

HUMOUR CAN COVER UP THINGS, BUT IT SHOWS A SENSE OF MINDFULNESS AND I THINK IT’S BRILLIANT. THAT’S THE WAY I LIVE A LOT OF MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF I’M HAVING A BREAKDOWN, I’LL STILL FIND THE HUMOUR IN IT.

I detest arrogant classism.

I’ve been around a lot of people — because I went to very posh schools — who were repulsive, repellent human beings. I can’t bear it, because what comes with any sense of arrogant classism is narrow-mindedness, and then I don’t feel safe as a gay man. The first person I came out to was my friend Andrew when I was 15. I remember I was wearing an Emporio Armani shirt — what a spoilt brat — and I was sweating profusely. I was very upset and crying to him in his room, and he was really sweet. Celine Dion’s Think Twice had just come out, so he was playing that on repeat.

My childhood crush was Adam Rickitt. I wanked over his poster in my friend’s sister’s bedroom once. It was quick and scary… a danger wank! I once saw Julia Roberts. We were sharing a makeup room and she said, “Aren’t you the guy from American Idol?” I said, “No, I’m from Pop Idol,” and then for some reason I said, “Oh, wouldn’t it be funny if it was called Pup Idol, and everybody brought their puppies?” Her assistant moved her away from me.

My biggest fear is being overwhelmed by my own emotions.

OUR BODIES, OUR NERVOUS SYSTEMS, STORE TRAUMAS… PAINFUL MEMORIES, AND SOMATIC THERAPY RELEASES IT, AND YOU FEEL LIGHTER. I HARDLY FEEL TIED TO MY PAST AT ALL NOW, WHICH IS QUITE A BRILLIANT THING.

Calmness is my happy place. I have a lot of pent-up energy in my body, so it’s quite difficult to feel fear and joy at the same time. That’s why Buddhists say, “You either live your life in love, or live your life in fear.”

I LOVE MY DOGS WITH EVERY INCH OF MY BODY. SO MUCH. I’M BURSTING EVEN TALKING ABOUT THEM… I’M A C***, BUT I LOVE ANIMALS.

I can be thoughtless and think too much about myself — and late. I wish we would, as friends, pull each other up on the traits that aren’t so good, because we don’t, we let them go.

THE WORST DATE I’VE BEEN ON… HE LOOKED SO LIKE JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS, BACK IN THE DAY. I WAS, LIKE, IS THIS JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS? SO, THAT WAS PLAYING IN MY HEAD FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THEN I JUST THOUGHT, HE MUST BE A RENT BOY. HE WANTED TO KISS ME, AND I SHOOK HIS HAND.

I’m writing a manual on life — that’s a sweeping statement, but why not — and I recently did relationships, and I was, like, Hollywood has a lot to answer for. A lot of it is bollocks. You can be really happy on your own. You can be. I hate putting on a new pair of socks and then treading in a wet patch in the bathroom — that would be my number-one [pet peeve]. Then you have to make the decision, do I carry on wearing them all day, or do I change them?

What question do I hate being asked in interviews? It’s normally a question about Simon Cowell. That’s like asking a question about Voldemort, do you know what I mean? But Voldemort’s way more interesting.