Will's the winner (but Simon would have prefered Gareth)

Some weeks back, before Pop Idol judge Pete Waterman lost the plot and come out with things ‘I’m going to throw a Spaniard in the works’ and ‘I’m British and I love you,’ he told an amazed Will Young: ‘The bad news is that you’re no Pop Idol, son. The good news is you’re a superstar.’

Simon Cowell tends to agree. On the show, he congratulated the winner Will, admitting that in the past he’d been wrong about him and that he was a superstar. But afterwards the man whose company will release Will’s first double A-sided single said: ‘The final vote has been irrelevant. Gareth is THE major Pop Idol to come out of the show. He’ll become a star as sure as night follows day and I’ve always known it.’

On Saturday night, 15 million viewers tuned in to see the final between bookies’ favourite Gareth Gates, the baby-faced Bradford lad with the stammer, and Exeter University graduate Will Young. The phone votes poured in and, although the lead changed several times, by the final cut-off Will had 4.6 million votes to Gareth’s 4.1 million.

It was an emotional moment when Ant and Dec made the announcement. Will clasped his hands to his face as tears sprang from his eyes. Gareth looked stunned, but recovered to give his friend and rival a hug and haltingly describe him as ‘awesome’. Former Pop Idol finalists stormed the stage and Darius Danesh, who was voted out of the show last week, bore Will aloft on his shoulders. In his first interview, Will – whose huge, trademark smile was stretched to record-breaking width – said: ‘I’m getting as drunk as a skunk tonight. I’ve hardly had a drink while I’ve been on the show, but tonight I’m going to make up for it. I’ll have a huge hangover by the time you read this.

‘I find it amazing that people have picked up phone and voted for me. I’d never set foot in a recording studio before Pop Idol and I’ve absolutely loved it. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and it’s just amazing because it feels so right. I can’t believe what’s happened to me- It’s a dream come true. I’m still shaking. It’s unbelievable.'

Will told how he almost didn’t fill in the Pop Idol entry form after seeing it in a national newspaper.

‘I didn’t fill it in at first because I didn’t think I had a chance of winning. But the paper stayed there through Sunday and Monday and I kept thinking: “Shall I or shan’t I?” In the end, I grabbed a pen, filled it in and sent it off. ‘I had to do it quickly or my nerve would have failed me and I’d have screwed it up and thrown it in the bin.’

Will’s grin widened as he remembered another form he once filled in. ‘The university sent me a form asking about my ambitions. I said jokingly that it was to play at Wembley.’

Next month, he’ll star at Wembley Arena with the other finalists from the show. ‘It’s so far from what I’m used to that I have to pinch myself,’ he said.

For the final show, both Will and Gareth sang Evergreen and Anything Is Possible. The two songs will now be released as a double A-side featuring Will.

The Pop Idol judges were even-handed in their praise for both finalists. Even Simon Cowell, who’d expressed reservations about Will in the past, told him: ‘I was wrong earlier and I’m totally happy to admit it. You deserve your place here. You’re a superstar. Congratulations.’

By the time Ant and Dec returned to announce the winner two hours later, the tension was unbearable.

Will said: ‘When Ant and Dec said that it was really close, I just thought: “Oh well, I’ve come second. At least I haven’t lost by that much.” But when they said I’d won, there was this feeling of being totally isolated.

‘I could feel my legs turn to jelly. They’re still wobbly now. When I realised it was me who’d won it took probably a second to sink in, but it seemed like minutes.

‘Ant and Dec grabbed me to say congratulations. That was a good think because if they hadn’t, I’d have slipped to the floor in shock.’

Speaking of his rival Gareth, Will said: ‘I want to say that Gareth was fantastic tonight. He’s got so much talent and I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of him in the future.

‘We became good friends in the closing weeks of Pop Idol, as we kept seeing others voted off and realised it was getting very close between us. We’re definitely going to stay in contact. I wish him all the very best in the world.’

Although people are already talking about the millions Will is going to make, for the present he still lives with his mates in typical student style in Exeter. He says that, during the past weeks, his friends have at least has a break from his constant singing in the shower.

He’s determined to stay grounded. ‘I know they say money changes you as a person, but I’m not going to go down that road. I’m surrounded by a brilliant family and group of friends. Being a millionaire will never change the way I am to these people.’

But last week Will wanted a new toothbrush and was amazed when one of his entourage said: ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get it for you.’

He’s not really adjusted to the idea that he can’t nip into Boots without being mobbed by fans. Like most superstars, he’s about to find out that fame is a double-edged sword.

Ó Now Magazine

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