Will Young

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Biography

William Robert "Will" Young (born 20 January 1979) is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominence
after winning the 2002 Pop Idol (series 1)|inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol , making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idol series|Idols -format franchise. His debut single, " Anything Is Possible (Will Young song)|Anything is Possible ", was released two weeks after the show's finale and became the fastest-selling debut single in the United Kingdom.

As a teenager, Young studied politics at the University of Exeter before moving to London, where he pursued a musical theatre degree at the Arts Educational Schools, London|Arts Educational School . Although enrolled in a three-year program, Young put his studies on hold in late 2001 to become a contestant on Pop Idol . After winning the competition the following year, he released his debut album From Now On (album)|From Now On (2002) which went to straight to number one. '' Friday's Child (album)|Friday's Child '' (2003) followed one year later and enjoyed greater popularity, eventually going platinum five times in the UK and spawning three top five singles. Achieving similar success, the album's successors include the multi-platinum Keep On (2005) and platinum Let It Go (Will Young album)|Let It Go (2008) with his most recent release Echoes (Will Young album)|Echoes (2011) becoming his third UK number-one album.

In addition to his string of platinum-selling albums, Young has embarked on numerous tours, acted on film, stage and television, participated in philanthropy and authored the two books Anything is Possible (2002) and On Camera, Off Duty (2004). Established in the music industry, his albums have spawned many songs that have accomplished top ten positions in the UK: four of which went to the number one spot. His success as a singer has been proved by his accumulation of multiple awards, including 2 Brit Awards|BRIT Awards from 12 nominations, and the estimated worldwide sale of over eight million albums.

Early life

Young was born in Wokingham , Berkshire, with a fraternal twin, Rupert Maxwell Young. He also has an elder sister Emma.
He had a pleasant childhood and has often spoken about his happy memories of this time. Young was educated at three independent schools: Horris Hill School near the village of Newtown in Berkshire and from the age of thirteen, at Wellington College (Berkshire)|Wellington College in Crowthorne , also in Berkshire, and at D'Overbroeck's College in Oxford . He then studied at the University of Exeter in Exeter , Devon, where he read Politics and graduated with a Second-class honours|2:2 honours degree. In September 2001, he became a student at the Arts Educational Schools, London|Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick , London, starting a three-year course in musical theatre with a scholarship.

Music career

Pop Idol and touring (2001–02)

In February 2002, Young came to national prominence by winning the ITV television programme contest Pop Idol . Contrary to press claims of being the Underdog (competition)|underdog , after having beaten the widely accepted front-runner Gareth Gates in the final show, it emerged that Young had in fact gained the most votes in six out of the nine rounds of public voting. This was published in the Pop Idol book, which was released shortly after the programme.

In early 2002, Young joined his fellow Pop Idol contestants in a nationwide arena tour. The final concert at Wembley was in aid of The Prince's Trust , of which Young is an ambassador, together with Gareth Gates and Darius Danesh , the runner-up and third-placed contestant in Pop Idol . In June 2002, Young performed at the Queen's Jubilee Concert in the grounds of Buckingham Palace , singing " We Are the Champions " with Queen (band)|Queen members Brian May and Roger Meddows-Taylor|Roger Taylor .

During July 2002, Young sang at two concerts with the renowned songwriter Burt Bacharach at Hammersmith Apollo and at the Liverpool Summerpops event. In August 2002, he performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games , singing " I Get the Sweetest Feeling " in the pouring rain. He was praised by the announcer, Grandmaster Flash , who said that it was not easy entering a talent show. November 2002 brought an appearance at the Royal Command Performance . In November 2003, Young performed the wartime song " A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (song)|A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square ", accompanied by The Squadronaires , at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The songs Young sang on Pop Idol were:

Week	Theme	Song performed	Artist
Audition	Idol's Choice	" Blame It on the Boogie "	The Jacksons
London Rounds	Day 1 – Part 1	Up on the Roof "	The Drifters
London Rounds	Day 1 – Part 2	All or Nothing "	O-Town
London Rounds	Day 2	" Fastlove "	George Michael
Top 50	Semi Finals	" Light My Fire "	The Doors
Top 10	Inspiring Artists	" Until You Come Back to Me "	Aretha Franklin
Top 9	Christmas Songs	" Winter Wonderland "	Perry Como
Top 8	Burt Bacharach Music	" Wives and Lovers "	Jack Jones
Top 7	Movie Hits	Days of Wine and Roses "	Bill Withers / Andy Williams
Top 6	Songs of ABBA	" The Name of the Game "	ABBA
Top 5	Big Band	" We Are in Love "	Harry Connick, Jr.
Top 4	No. 1 Hits	" Night Fever " " There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) "	Bee Gees The Eurythmics
Top 3	Judges' Choice	Beyond the Sea " " I Get the Sweetest Feeling "	Bobby Darin Jackie Wilson
Top 2	Idol Single A-Side Idol's Favourite Idol Single AA-Side	Anything is Possible " "Light My Fire" " Evergreen (Westlife song)	Will Young The Doors/ Jose Feliciano Westlife

From Now On (2002–05)

Young's first single was a double A-side featuring Westlife 's song " Evergreen (Westlife song)|Evergreen " and " Anything Is Possible (Will Young song)|Anything Is Possible ", a new song written for the winner of the show by Chris Braide and Cathy Dennis . In March 2002, this became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, selling 403 027 copies on its day of release (1 108 659 copies in its first week). It went on to sell over 1.7 million copies, and on the official list of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK issued later that year, it was ranked eleventh. In 2008, Official Charts Company released the Top 40 Biggest Selling Single (music)|Singles of the 21st century (so far) in which Will's version of Evergreen topped the chart. On 31 December 2009, Radio 1 confirmed that "Anything Is Possible"/"Evergreen" was the biggest selling single of the 2000s decade in the United Kingdom. " Anything Is Possible (Will Young song)|Anything is possible " won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrics|Lyric ally.

In October 2002, Young released his debut album, From Now On (album)|From Now On , which included "Evergreen" nominated in the Best single category in 2003 at the BRIT Awards and "Anything Is Possible". It produced three singles: "Light My Fire", " The Long and Winding Road " (a duet with Gareth Gates, released as a double A-side with Gates's song " Suspicious Minds ") and " Don't Let Me Down (Will Young song)|Don't Let Me Down "/" You and I (Will Young song)|You and I " (released in aid of Children in Need ). He won his first BRIT Award in February 2003 as Best Breakthrough Artist.

''Friday's Child and Keep On (2003–06)

Young's second album, '' Friday's Child (album)|Friday's Child '', was released in December 2003. It features the singles " Leave Right Now ", nominated in the Best British single category of the past 25 years at the 2005 BRIT Awards and winner of the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2004, " Your Game " (which won Young his second BRIT Award in 2005) and " Friday's Child (2004 song)|Friday's Child " In November 2005, Young released his third album, Keep On , which included the single " All Time Love ", nominated in the Best British Single category at the 2007 BRIT Awards . Other singles from the album were " Switch It On " and " Who Am I (Will Young song)|Who Am I ".

In May 2006, he sang at The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday, which took place at the Tower of London . From 12 September until 2 October 2006, Young toured the UK with his Keep On Live tour, which included the songs taken from his album Keep On and a selection of past songs. The official merchandise range for the tour, highlighted by the press, included a "tip and strip" pen which, when turned over, reveals Young in his underpants. In October 2006, Young sang at Nitin Sawhney 's concert in the BBC Electric Proms series of concerts. He followed this by performing in South Africa for Nelson Mandela 's Unite of the Stars charity concerts.

In July 2007, he appeared at the Concert for Diana at the new Wembley Stadium. Young was the headline act at the Proms in the Park , which took place in Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park in September 2007 as part of the Last Night of the Proms . In September 2007, Young performed at Ronnie Scott 's Jazz Club with the Vanguard Big Band. Young took part in the Little Noise Sessions , a series of intimate, acoustic gigs for the learning disability charity, Mencap . He performed in November 2007 with special guests at Islington's Union Chapel.

Let It Go and Greatest Hits (2008–10)

On 29 September 2008, Young's fourth album, Let It Go (Will Young album)|Let It Go , was released. It peaked at Nº2 in the album charts, having been preceded by the single " Changes (Will Young song)|Changes ", which was released on 15 September and peaked at Nº10 in the UK Singles Chart . His next single "Grace" was released on 1 December 2008, and peaked at Nº33 on the UK Singles Chart . The third single taken from the album, " Let It Go (Will Young song)|Let It Go ", was released on 2 March 2009 in the UK, and peaked at Nº58 on the UK Singles Chart . The fourth and final single, " Tell Me the Worst ", was released in the UK only, on 5 July 2009. It served as a club promo, and featured some Fred Falke remixes.

In April 2008, Young again appeared at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club with the Vanguard Big Band. Young is to perform at various festivals during mid 2008, including Glastonbury Festival|Glastonbury , T In the Park in Scotland and Bestival on the Isle of Wight .

On 24 August 2008 Young appeared at the Olympic Party which took place in The Mall, London . He performed his latest single Changes (Will Young song)|Changes and I Can See Clearly Now , which was originally sung by Johnny Nash .
On an interview with Digital Spy , Will Young revealed that he was working on a Dance-Pop album, which might be released in late 2009. He also confirmed that he was working with British duo Groove Armada , Superbass, who remixed his UK Top 10 single "Changes", and Gregg Alexander , who has previously worked with British pop singers Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Geri Halliwell . He also confirmed that he is working on an album covering songs by Noel Coward , which is as yet in its very early stages and he "doesn't know if it will end up". Young performed in a sell-out theatre tour, commencing on 16 November 2008 and continuing until 13 December 2008 with two dates at The Roundhouse in Camden, London.

Young was the featured singer on the The X Factor (UK)|X-Factor programme on ITV1 on Saturday 1 November 2008. He also mentored the remaining contestants. On 31 December 2008 Young was featured as a guest on Elton John 's Live New Year show at the O2 Arena in London. He joined Sir Elton in the song Daniel . Young was one of the performers at the BBC's "Live at Blackpool" programme on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday 5 September 2009.

Young's greatest hits collection was released on 16 November 2009. It included two brand new songs, one of them the single "Hopes & Fears". The album was a success on the charts, being certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry . In 2010 Will Young collaborated with Groove Armada on their album Black Light (album)|Black Light , singing vocals on the track 'History'. As part of his 2010 outdoor summer tour, it was announced that he would be a special guest and play on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor was his supporting act for his 2010 tour.

Recently his 2003 song "Leave Right Now" has been featured on American Idol as the "departing song". He also performed live on the programme on 25 May 2010. Young gave his first U.S. concert on 26 May at West Hollywood 's Ultra Suede nightclub. He was also featured on the cover of the U.S. magazine Instinct (magazine)|Instinct .

Echoes (2011–present)

In early 2011, Will tweeted teaser clips of tracks from his new album, ' Echoes (will young album)|Echoes ', which was subsequently released on 22 August 2011 and entered the UK Album charts at No. 1 on 29 August 2011 making it Youngs first number one album since "Fridays Child" in 2003. The first single is called ' Jealousy (Will Young song)|Jealousy ', and premiered on BBC Radio 2, between 9am-12pm, Monday 11 July 2011, as confirmed on Will's Facebook page. The single was released on 21 August 2011, preceding the album by 1 day with the single peaking at #5. "A Night With...Will Young" was aired two days before the release of Echoes on ITV1 presented by Kate Thornton charting all of Youngs greatest hits plus performing a few new tracks from the album. Young appeared on the third episode of The Jonathan Ross Show performing a track from Echoes to further promote the album. Will has announced a brand new 23 date UK tour including 2 nights at London's Shepherds Bush Empire.

Other ventures

Acting career

Young added acting to his repertoire when he accepted a role in the BBC film Mrs. Henderson Presents , starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins , in which he played Bertie. The film was released in the UK in November 2005 to excellent reviews—not least for Young's performance as both actor and singer in the film. The scene, in which Young appears naked, postdated his "absolutely thrilled" acceptance of the British male Rear of the Year Award 2005, an accolade to add to the Most Stylish Male Music Star, Best Bod, Sexiest Star, Best Dressed and Best Hair awards he had already won.

Young trod the boards in the Royal Exchange Theatre 's production of The Vortex by Noel Coward . This production ran from January to March 2007 and Young played the leading role of Nicky Lancaster. Critics, including Nicholas de Jongh , were very positive.

In October 2007 Young narrated an audio version of the Roald Dahl novel Danny, the Champion of the World .

Young also appeared in the Marple (TV series)|Marple drama ''The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side and guest starred in an episode of Skins (TV series)|Skins '' in 2010.

In 2011, he starred in a new drama series on Living (UK TV channel)|Sky Living called Bedlam (TV series)|Bedlam , about supernatural happenings taking place at a disused asylum being converted into loft-style apartments. The £3 million six-part series began airing on 7 February 2011. It was distributed by BBC Worldwide .

In November 2004, Young presented a documentary entitled Runaways as part of the Children in Need campaign, highlighting the problems facing distressed teens who run away from home, and the plight they were in being picked up off the streets and railway stations by pimps who offered them work and drugs. The children did not know where to go for immediate help unless they were picked up by the police and sent to a refuge centre.

During June 2007 a series of documentaries entitled Saving Planet Earth was shown on BBC Television . Young filmed an episode about saving the gorillas of West Africa during his visit to Africa earlier in the year.

In March 2009, ITV1 arts programme The South Bank Show presented an hour long fly on the wall documentary about Young that they had been filming over the course of the year as he returned to promote the Let It Go album. It showed him in Iceland filming the video for the Let It Go single, backstage before his performance on The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor and on his UK theatre tour from November 2008 amongst other segments.

Young has been made a "Companion" of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Young was a guest on Top Gear during season 12 episode 2 and was the fastest wet lap around the track in the Chevrolet Lacetti.

Young is making a documentary about Ralph Fiennes production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus which is being filmed in Serbia. He also has a small role in the film as well as being Executive Producer.

In August 2011, ITV based an hour-long programme on Young, entitled "A Night with Will Young". This was to promote the release of his most recent album, Echoes .

31 October 2011, Will was the guest host of Never Mind The Buzzcocks .

Other work

On 27 October 2008, Young spoke on Celebrity at the Oxford Union , where he showed an interest in forming a band named 'Will Young and the Credit Crunchers'., 27 October 2008 he was invited to appear on Question Time (TV series)|Question Time after he revealed he was a fan of the show. He participated in the edition from Dunstable , Bedfordshire, in February 2009.

Young supports the charity Women's Aid , about which he wrote: "I am proud to put my name beside this cause, and hope that I might be able to help more people affected by the terrors of domestic violence, as well as help to create a wider awareness within our society."

Young also supports Mencap —about which he wrote, "I'm very much in this for the long term, and I'd like to help continue to break down peoples' misconceptions and prejudices"—, The Children's Society Safe and Sound Campaign, and Positive Action Southwest (PASW), for which he performed at his first solo concert, in July 2003, at Killerton|Killerton House , Exeter .

Young has been an ambassador for The Prince's Trust since 2002, and performed at the 30th anniversary concert in the grounds of the Tower of London .

Together with Dame Helen Mirren , Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Freeman , Young appeared in a series of advertisements during the Christmas period 2007 for Oxfam ; "Oxfam Unwrapped".

Young is the ambassador for Mood Foundation , a charity which aims to build a database of private therapists and alternative therapies to treat various types of depressive conditions. It was set up by Young's twin brother Rupert Young.

Young is an ambassador for Catch22 (charity)|Catch22 , a UK young people's charity, which supports young people in tough situations. The young people may come from tough upbringings or neighbourhoods, where poverty, crime and unemployment are common features. They may be leaving care, truanting, or have been excluded from school. Some of them have started getting into trouble with the police or may have got as far as custody. In April 2011 Young ran the London Marathon for Catch22 (charity)|Catch22 .

Personal life

In March 2002, Young revealed that he is gay, pre-empting a tabloid newspaper that was preparing to outing|out him. He also stated that he had never hidden and was comfortable with his sexuality.Will Young, Anything Is Possible , page 229

Discography

From Now On (album)|From Now On (2002)

'' Friday's Child (album)|Friday's Child (2003)

Keep On (2005)

Let It Go (Will Young album)|Let It Go (2008)

Echoes (Will Young album)|Echoes (2011)

Filmography

Title	Year	Medium	Role	Notes
Mrs Henderson Presents
Skins
''Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
Bedlam

Copyright Citations

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