Will Young won Pop Idol 10 years ago today!

10 years ago today Will Young won Pop Idol. The then 23-year-old singer beat bookies favourite Gareth Gates to take the lion’s share of the votes in the finale of the first series of the reality TV singing contest.

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10 years ago today Will Young won Pop Idol.

The then 23-year-old singer beat bookies favourite Gareth Gates to take the lion’s share (4.6 million) of the 8.7 public votes in the finale of the first series of the reality TV singing contest on February 9, 2002.

To commemorate the anniversary, Young tweeted:

“Ten years ago today I won Pop Idol. Since then I have still not achieved my dream of a Tupperware range. Life can be cruel...” Will_young31

Pop Idol, which was hosted by Ant and Dec and featured Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox as judges, ran from 2001 to 2003. It spawned spin-off shows in 42 different countries, including the hugely successful American Idol. Pop Idol was replaced on British television in 2004 with the X Factor.

Will Young’s double A side debut single Anything Is Possible / Evergreen was released on February 25, 2002 and went on to become the fastest selling single since Elton John’s Candle In the Wind ’97, shifting over 1.1 million copies in its first week on sale.


Will Young - Evergreen on MUZU.

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