Introduction

Will Young is a British singer, songwriter, actor and activist who rose to fame after winning the 2002 series of Pop Idol. He is one of the most successful winners from any season of the show, having achieved seven UK number one singles and a string of number one albums. His music has also been recognized by several awards including two BRIT Awards for Best British Male Artist in 2005 and 2006.

Early Life

Will Young was born on 20th January 1979 in Wokingham, England. His parents were teachers, and he had two brothers. He studied at Wellington College before gaining a degree in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Exeter in 2001.

Career

The same year he graduated from university, Will auditioned for the first season of Pop Idol in London. After winning the competition in February 2002, he released his debut single 'Evergreen' which became the fastest selling debut single ever in the UK at the time. It went on to become a number one hit. He followed this up with another number one single 'Anything Is Possible/Evergreen' which stayed at the top spot for three weeks. In 2003 he released his debut album 'From Now On' which entered the UK album chart at number one and went on to be certified four times platinum by the BPI.

Subsequent Releases

Will has gone on to release a further five studio albums since his debut as well as several compilation albums featuring some of his greatest hits. His albums have all been extremely well received and he has achieved commercial success with each release. He has also appeared on various television programmes including Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. In 2016 he took part in the BBC's Children in Need Rocks concert where he performed alongside fellow Pop Idol winner Gareth Gates.

Activism

Will is also an active campaigner for LGBT rights and was one of the first celebrities to publicly come out as gay. He has spoken out against homophobic bullying as well as taking part in numerous fundraising events for charities such as Childline and Stonewall UK. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2004 for his services to music charity work.

Conclusion

Will Young is an incredibly successful singer, songwriter, actor and activist who continues to make waves in the music industry. His success has seen him achieve numerous accolades including two BRIT Awards for Best British Male Artist as well as being appointed MBE for his charity work. Will’s influence on music culture is undeniable and he continues to be an inspiration for many around the world.