Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Verity Sulway & Kit Roberts

Will Young's life after Pop Idol - Masked Singer, activism, and brother's death

As rumours abound that much loved music talent show Pop Idol is set to return to the screens, we take a look at some of the famous faces who got their break during its original run.

First up is 2002 winner of the show Will Young, who shot to fame with a string of hits after his victory.

But what is the star up to these days?

Will's musical career is still going very strong as he is continuing to release songs.

More recently however he has wowed audiences when he became the third celebrity to be revealed on the Masked Singer.

Speaking of his experience on the show, he told the Mirror : "Hiding was so easy and made it so enjoyable. I was nervous when I had to take the mask off! It was very interesting to experience."

Although many fans of the show were surprised when Will was revealed under the Lionfish mask, others claimed they had twigged his identity due to his unmistakeable voice.

But it wasn't just his singing talent which has landed the Pop Idol winner in the headlines since his victory, as he handcuffed himself to the gates of a puppy breeders to protest the conditions that the dogs were kept in.

Will Young after handcuffing himself to the gates outside a dog breeding facility (SWNS)

He stunned the world outside the facility which bred puppies for use in animal testing, joining animal rights protestors

Will handcuffed himself to the gates and demanded that the dogs were released and the facility shut down.

The singer explained his actions, saying: "I am a dog-lover, an animal-lover and a human-lover, I come with no hate and aggression.

"People are unaware there is still animal testing in this country and it is not needed. I couldn’t sit at home and not do nothing [to] bring attention to the plight of these animals.

"All protests, all movements, need little boosts. As someone who has [fans] I couldn’t sit at home and just write another song or another book."

He has also experienced awful tragedy, speaking about the death of his twin brother who died after falling from Westminster Bridge in 2020.

A coroner ruled that the death of 41-year-old Rupert had been a suicide, finding that he jumped off the bridge on July 30 2020, the same day he quietly left St Thomas' Hospital where he had been admitted. HIs body was found on August 2.

Will questioned whether his brother had received the support he needed, and said he believed his brother should have been seen by a psychiatrist and sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

He said: "Those working for the NHS do an amazing job and within very difficult circumstances and it’s never been more hard-pressed than at the moment.

"However my brother is someone who had, in the weeks and months before his death, been into hospital countless times following suicide attempts.

"I am astounded that Rupert, having been found trying to jump off Westminster Bridge on July 28, was allowed to leave hospital two days later yet again, without ever having been referred to a consultant psychiatrist.

"It is my belief that it must or should have been obvious to all concerned that he was a high risk of suicide and should have been detained under the Mental Health Act for his own safety.

"Had this been done he might still be alive today. I know we are not the only family in this situation and I pray that lessons are learned from his situation and some of these deaths are prevented in the future."

Will also pulled out of BBC show Strictly Come Dancing due to "personal reasons", admitting he was "unwell" and struggling to cope with the pressures of fame, as well as suffering with deep depression.

Will Young with Darius Danesh and Gareth Gates in 2002 (PA)

"In the weeks leading up to Strictly all I could think about was how could I get out of doing the show," he told Event magazine.

"I knew I didn’t have the strength, that I wasn’t in the right place and that I would do myself real damage.

"I actually looked into the easiest way to break my legs so I couldn’t dance. That’s how bad it was."

Will is still friends with Pop Idol alum Gareth, and currently lives in Dalston in East London, as well as owning a 17th century cottage in Cornwall.

He is also a keen gardener, appearing on Gardeners' World with Monty Don in 2019.

After announcing he would retire from music and revealing that he had planned to become a therapist, Will has recently released a new album.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.