From the heights of winning the original Pop Idol, to the depths of an anxiety disorder during his time on Strictly Come Dancing, Will Young is a stalwart of pop culture, selling over 10 million albums globally, winning two BRITs and an Olivier nomination. 

Having grown up watching him at weekends whilst at boarding school, Jamie chats too, Will, his Saturday night saviour about his experience at boarding school and the abuse he endured. The pair also discuss the impact of Will’s coming out as gay in 2002 and the time a fan shared the importance of that act, and how being single in your 40s is not to be pitied. Will also shares the heartbreaking loss of his twin brother to suicide, and how he approaches grief with a refreshing (and a little Greek) attitude

After once falling out of love with the music industry, Will Young is back releasing his ninth studio album Light It Up. Through the ups and downs of fame, one thing has stayed constant: Will's resilience, grounded nature, and unwavering kindness.

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00:00 My experience with a butler at Buckingham Palace
02:20 Not realising the impact that I had on people by coming out
04:00 How you couldn’t be sexual as a gay man
07:00 Not wanting to be pitied for being single in my 40’s
11:50 My prep-school being an abusive environment
15:00 My prep-school tried to silence me speaking out about my abuse
22:50 Losing my brother to suicide
25:00 My process of getting into a character when acting
27:50 Using humour to navigate grief
33:00 Not seeing people as gone when they die
34:30 I am finally at a stage where I am opening my heart up
38:50 Experiencing my biggest heartbreak
40:30 Having a breakdown whilst doing Strictly
43:30 Ringing up the Samaritans because I was having suicidal thoughts
46:15 Someone who had booked me for a gig thought the crowd might not like me
49:00 How people were prejudice against me when I did Pop Idol
52:00 Why I fell out of love in the music industry
53:30 What it was like when I was at the heights of fame
55:40 My new album ‘Light It Up’
59:30 Jamie tries singing ‘Leave right now’
1:00:30 Final eight questions

#WILLYOUNG #GREATCOMPANYPODCAST #JAMIELAING
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THE CREDITS:
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer: Gurlina Heer
Video: Jake Ji
Video Editor: Ryley Kirby
Social Media: Laura Coughlan
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot