“From the beginning they probably knew I was irritating!” Life according to singer, Will Young

Singer Will Young talks life in the spotlight, nostalgia and helping good causes. 

Does it feel like 20 years since you won Pop Idol?

No, it doesn’t, although maybe when I’m digging through old photos or videos it might seem like a long time ago. It’s hard to put myself back in that place – I remember things, but I don’t remember what they were like.

You’re marking the anniversary with a new Greatest Hits album and tour?

I think it’s important to mark it. I didn’t realise how powerful nostalgia is. I did a session for Radio 2 and out of all the videos that were watched, (debut single) Evergreen was watched 300% more than any of the others, and that made me realise how much people like nostalgia and how good it makes them feel. Let’s all get nostalgic together – I think people like that at the moment because life isn’t easy.

Do you ever think of what life would be like if you hadn’t done Pop Idol?

That’s not how my mind works. Careers are defined by punctuating moments – an anniversary or a brilliant acting job or a big hit. When you’ve done this for two decades, you learn to sit back and think, “Who knows what’s next?” and that’s a nice place to be. I’ve moved through the stressful period and I’m now in the longer game, which is a much more relaxing and fun place to be.

You seem to have had a lot of control over your career from early on?

I remember walking into the office with a box file and saying, “Where’s my desk?” and they didn’t know what to say. They said they didn’t have desks for artists and I asked them why not, because they should, we’re all making money, so come on. So from the beginning they probably knew I was irritating!

From the second record in particular I felt I had really good creative control. I feel lucky because I was allowed to do wacky videos and different photoshoots and I think people just knew that’s what I was going to do, and we had a lot of fun with it.

Do you feel it’s important to use your profile to help others?

From the first time I stood up to a bullying Simon Cowell as a judge, I feel it’s a responsibility, if people who don’t have a voice can’t shine a light on certain things, that I do so. That’s a really nice thing and it’s very fulfilling and I get a lot of pleasure from it. I get frustrated for people, so if I can highlight different stories, I feel I owe it to myself and to people to do so.

You’ve written a new wellbeing book – do you feel sharing personal stories can help others?

I think it’s a great way of connecting with people and getting rid of and obliterating shame or any stigma that can be around certain things. It doesn’t mean it always has to be super intense or dour, but I think when people can hear someone talking about stuff they’ve also gone through and there’s visibility of it, it makes life a lot easier for people.

I certainly find that for myself, so why not try to do it for other people? I felt this book was needed. Everything I try to do, I believe there’s a need for it.

What can you tell us about the two new songs on the album?

Breaking Free I did years ago for the Echoes album – I always wanted it on and although it never made it, I never forgot about it. Why Does It Hurt was a song I wrote in the first lockdown with the intention of pitching it to Dua Lipa, because my publisher in America said she was looking for a song, so I said let’s try to write one for her, but it never made it to her. We kept it.

20 Years – The Greatest Hits is out now. Will plays SEC Armadillo, Glasgow, and Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on October 12 and 16