Will Young

Artist Image: Will Young
Attribution
Image Credit: The original uploader was Stephenjamesx at English Wikipedia. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/katieheartsphotography/4798518519/), CC BY 2.0

Biography

William Robert "Will" Young (born 20 January 1979) is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominence after winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise. His debut single, "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 School. Although enrolled in a three-year programme, 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 (2002) which went to straight to number one. 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 (2008) with his most recent release 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 from 12 nominations, and the estimated worldwide sale of over eight million albums. Young's net worth was estimated at £13.5 million in April 2012.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 2001
Number of Albums 56
Record Label RCA
Website www.willyoung.co.uk
Wikipedia Will Young on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Pop

Trivia

Where did Young study politics as a teenager before moving to London?

Exeter University

... acting and philanthropy. As a teenager, Young studied politics at Exeter University before moving to London, where he pursued a musical theater degre...
What degree did Young pursue at the Arts Educational School?

musical theater

...cs at Exeter University before moving to London, where he pursued a musical theater degree at the Arts Educational School in Chiswick. Although enroll...
Where is the Arts Educational School located?

Chiswick

... he pursued a musical theater degree at the Arts Educational School in Chiswick . Although enrolled in a threeyear program, Young put his studies on ho...
What was the name of Young's debut album?

From Now On

...he competition early the following year and released his debut album, From Now On Friday's Child followed one year later and enjoyed greater popularit...
How many times did From Now On Friday's Child go platinum in the U.K.?

five

...one year later and enjoyed greater popularity, eventually going platinum five times in the U.K. and spawning three Top Five singles. Released in 2005,...
When was Keep On released?

2005

... five times in the U.K. and spawning three Top Five singles. Released in 2005 , Keep On proved to be another multiplatinum hit, and Let It Go followed ...
How many Top Five singles did Keep On have?

three

...opularity, eventually going platinum five times in the U.K. and spawning three Top Five singles. Released in 2005, Keep On proved to be another multip...
What album followed Keep On?

Let It Go

... Released in 2005, Keep On proved to be another multiplatinum hit, and Let It Go followed in 2008. As the decade closed, Young stood out as one of the...
What was the name of the number one hit from Friday's Child?

Leave Right Now

...ed virtually unknown in America. That began to change in 2010, when Leave Right Now a number one hit from Friday's Child was chosen as the exit song f...
When was Leave Right Now released in the US?

one day after American Idol's ninth season finale

...n EP, Leave Right Now, and released it in the U.S. one day after American Idol's ninth season finale . When the EP failed to cause much of a stir, Youn...
What year did American Idol's ninth season end?

2010

...though he remained virtually unknown in America. That began to change in 2010 , when Leave Right Now a number one hit from Friday's Child was chosen as...
What was the name of Young's sixth album?

Echoes

...the summer with Sophie EllisBextor and began recording his sixth album, Echoes , which appeared in August 2011. Young parted ways with the label and si...
When did Young release his sixth album?

August 2011

...ophie EllisBextor and began recording his sixth album, Echoes, which appeared in August 2011 . Young parted ways with the label and signed with Island....
What year was William Robert Young born?

1979

...William Robert Young (born January 20, 1979 ), is a British singer and actor. He catapulted to fame after winning the inaugural UK Pop Idol contest in ...
Who was William Young's twin?

Rupert

.... Young was born in Wokingham, Berkshire, UK, with a nonidentical twin, Rupert . He was educated at Horris Hill preparatory school and Wellington Colle...
Who did Will beat in the finals of Pop Idol?

Gareth Gates

...trary to popular belief, Will was not a surprise winner when beating Gareth Gates in the final show; in fact, he gained the most votes nearly every we...
Who won Pop Idol?

William Robert Young

... William Robert Young (born January 20, 1979), is a British singer and actor. He catapulted to fame after winning the inaugural UK Pop Idol contest in ...
How many copies did Will Youngs single sell on its day of release?

403,027

...ten for the winner of the show by Cathy Dennis. This became the fastestselling debut in UK chart history selling 403,027 copies on its day of release....
What was his grade in his undergraduate studies at Exeter University?

2.2

... to Exeter University, finishing his undergraduate studies in 2001 with a 2.2 in politics. During his stay at uni, the handsome wouldbe star was attra...
In what year was he awarded a 2.2 in politics?

2001

... he went on to Exeter University, finishing his undergraduate studies in 2001 with a 2.2 in politics. During his stay at uni, the handsome wouldbe sta...
What did the handsome would-be star do during his uni stay?

runway and photographic modelling

...to the limelight, appearing in stage productions and doing runway and photographic modelling . His work life also involved parttime restaurant jobs and...
Who was the presenter of Pop Idol Extra?

Kate Thornton

...d one day be very familiar Simon Cowell and Pop Idol Extra presenter Kate Thornton . In fact, Will kept his application to Pop Idol a secret from his f...
What was the first single from the album to be released as a single?

Don't Let Me DownYou And I

...m Now On, selling more than 180,000 copies in the first week. Don't Let Me DownYou And I , the first track from the album to be released as a single, p...
At what number did the first track of the album reach?

two

...irst week. Don't Let Me DownYou And I, the first track from the album to be released as a single, peaked at an impressive number two in November 2002....
What was Young's debut single?

Anything Is Possible Evergreen

...he worldwide Idol franchise. His double Asided debut single Anything Is Possible Evergreen was released two weeks after the show's finale and became t...
Who wrote the song Light My Fire?

the Doors

... in World Idol performing the single Light My Fire written by the band the Doors . Young put his studies on hold in late 2001 to become a contestant on...
When did Young put his studies on hold to become a contestant on Pop Idol?

late 2001

...y Fire written by the band the Doors. Young put his studies on hold in late 2001 to become a contestant on Pop Idol. After winning the competition the...
When did he release his debut album?

2002

...competition the following year, he released his debut album From Now On ( 2002 ) which went straight to number one. Friday's Child (2003) followed and e...
What was his fourth UK number one album?

85 Proof

...(2005), Let It Go (2008) and Echoes (2011) also went multiplatinum and 85 Proof (2015) became his fourth UK numberone album. His albums have spawned m...
How many of the top ten positions in the UK went to the number one spot?

four

... have spawned many songs that have achieved top ten positions in the UK, four of which went to the number one spot. Young's net worth was estimated at...
What was Young's net worth estimated at in April 2012?

13.5 million

...t have achieved top ten positions in the UK, four of which went to the number one spot. Young's net worth was estimated at 13.5 million in April 2012....
Who wrote the single Light My Fire?

The Doors

... in World Idol performing the single Light My Fire written by the band The Doors . Young put his studies on hold in late 2001 to become a contestant on...
In what city did Young perform in the musical Cabaret?

London

...ed in film, on stage and in television. For his performance in the 2013 London revival of the musical Cabaret, he was nominated for the Laurence Olivi...
Who represents Will Young?

Kruger Cowne

...was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Will Young is represented by talent & rights management agency Kruger Cowne ....
What was Will's debut single called?

Anything Is PossibleEvergreen

...ol show around the world. Will's double Asided debut single ' Anything Is PossibleEvergreen ' became the fastestselling debut single in the UK, with ove...
Will has since released how many studio albums?

seven

...d Idol, performing his cover of 'Light My Fire'. Will has since released seven studio albums, and has had hits with songs including 'Leave Right Now',...
When did he publish his book To Be a Gay Man?

2020

...nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. In 2020 , he published his book To Be a Gay Man, and has also cohosted the podcas...
What podcast series has he co-hosted?

Homo Sapiens

...d his book To Be a Gay Man, and has also cohosted the podcast series Homo Sapiens . He took part in 2016 series of Strictly Come Dancing, but pulled ou...
Young has undertaken numerous what?

concert tours

...songs that have accomplished top ten positions in the UK: four of which went to the number one spot. Young has also undertaken numerous concert tours ....
Where was Young born?

Wokingham, Berkshire, UK

...Young was born in Wokingham, Berkshire, UK , with a nonidentical twin, Rupert. He was educated at Horris Hill preparatory school and Wellington College...
What was the name of the preparatory school that Young attended?

Horris Hill

..., Berkshire, UK, with a nonidentical twin, Rupert. He was educated at Horris Hill preparatory school and Wellington College. At university, some of Yo...
Who wrote the song Evergreen and Anything Is Possible?

Cathy Dennis

...ything Is Possible, a new song written for the winner of the show by Cathy Dennis . This became the fastestselling debut in UK chart history selling 40...