POP Idol winner Will Young has fame, fortune,
adulation—and the courage of a lion.
And last night, after hearing the news that his first
record—the fastest selling debut single in history — had sold an astonishing
1.4 million copies, he opened up that brave heart to announce: "I feel
it's time to tell my fans I'm gay."
In an amazingly frank exclusive interview with the News of
the World he insisted: "It's totally no big deal, just part of who I
am.
"For me it's normal and nothing to be ashamed about.
I'm gay and I'm comfortable with that.
"I really don't know what the fuss is about. I always
try to be honest with myself and truthful with everyone.
Support
"I'm sure this will not come as a surprise to many
people, although I've aways been discreet and I'm not a campaigner when it
comes to my sexuality."
Many of the biggest names in showbiz and public life are
homosexual and feel forced to live a lie.
But last night Will — the former politics student who
endeared himself to all Britain with his talent, guts and the widest of wide
grins—won total support from friends and colleagues for his honesty.
"Some other media pressure has led me to talk about
my private life," he told us. "I always try and be honest
and true to myself and not to take life too seriously.
"My family and friends have known ever since I have.
They've always been there for me. And my management have been fantastic. I had
a long conversation with the boss Simon Fuller last night and told him about my
decision to come out publicly.
"He was totally relaxed and supportive and left it up
to me to decide when, or if, I wanted to talk about it. Now is that time.
"But I don't wish to talk about it any further—and I
hope people will respect that. My private life is my private life." A Pop
Iol source told us: "Will's had lots of speculation about his private
life. He is gay but is very discreet and not some gay rights fanatic.
"He's only ever had two close relationships and is
now really too busy to have a partner. He's totally focused on his career at
the moment.
He wanted to come out in the News of the World because
that's where this all began when saw the entry form in the paper.
"He's just happy that it's out and he can carry on
working."
It is a bold move, for the pop record industry is still
firmly targeted at selling to young female fans.
And business experts predict a £5million pay packet for
Will in his first year alone. Will himself is well aware of his appeal.
In one early round of the 20-week TV talent contest he
laughed off a jibe from Mr Nasty panellist Simon Cowell and hit back: "I
get fan mail from six-year-old girls to 65-year-old aunties. It's
amazing!"
And the nice guy from Hungerford, Berkshire, went on to
win the big one—bagging an astonishing 4.6 million phone votes, 53.1 per cent
of all those cast, plus a lucrative deal with record company BMG and 19
Management.
When his first record, the double A-side Anything Is Possible/Evergreen,
was released on February 25 he notched up more than a million sales in one week
and went straight into the chart at Number 1.
It even eclipsed the massive first week success of Band
Aid's historic Do They Know It's Christmas? release in 1984.
But instant glory has not gone to his head.
Even when Will first walked off the Pop Idol stage after
learning he'd beaten his rival, hot favourite Gareth Gates, it was the News of
the World he saluted for printing the contest entry coupon that clinched him
fame and fortune. "I wouldn't be here without you," he said.
Dreams
Millions watched that final with Will and Gareth going
head-to-head.
Both sang their hearts out with Evergreen and Anything Is
Possible—the songs that have now made Will top of the pops.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would sell
this many," admitted Will. "It's unbelievable."
On Wednesday Will and the rest of the Pop Idol stars hit
the road, kicking off a nationwide tour at Wembley Arena.
And it's already a massive sell-out. "I can't wait
to get back on stage and start performing again," said Will.
"I'm really looking forward to being out there with
the fans. I'm determined to give them a great show.
"I just love being up there on stage—that's when I'm
happiest!"
Will has always yearned to be singing star. Even at
university in Exeter he won over fans with a role in the stage musical
Oklahoma!
And last week Will vowed to get in shape for the big
round-Britain trek by quitting the booze after a series of heavy celebration
sessions.
"I just can't drink any more for a while," he
confessed. "I've overdone it, especially after filming my video in
Cuba. I went on a huge bender there, and I've been on a few more since."
But Will has one of the best organisations in the business
to advise and support him.
He has pop svengali Simon Fuller—the man who created the
Spice Girls—along with Nicki Chapman who co-manages the star. On the PR side he
relies on the great team at Henry's House where Julian Henry and Charlotte
Hickson have masterminded his media coverage along with BMG's Simon Cowell,
Nigel Sweeney and Sonny Takhar.
A close friend said: "Will's over the moon about
the success but he doesn't let it go to his head.
"He knows that it's easy to get carried away and he
wants to be in this business for a long time. And believe me he will be."
Ó News of
the World