Will Young has claimed that Adele was suspended from school after punching a fellow pupil who supported Gareth Gates during the pair’s Pop Idol rivalry in 2002. Young recalled the incident in an interview with Official Charts while reflecting on his victory in the ITV talent competition and the success of his hit “Leave Right Now”.
Young, now 47, won the inaugural series of Pop Idol, beating Gates, 42, who became known for songs including “Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)”. The competition sparked passionate support for both singers, with Young now claiming that Adele was among those who strongly backed him.
Will Young Recalls Adele’s Pop Idol Support
Speaking to Official Charts, Young described the alleged incident involving the future Grammy-winning singer.
“Adele got suspended for standing up for me because people were voting for Gareth,”
Young said.
He added:
“She punched a girl. Got suspended from school. Did you know that?”
The anecdote offers a glimpse into the intensity of the public reaction to the first Pop Idol competition, which helped launch Young’s career.
Will Young Initially Rejected Leave Right Now
Young also revealed that he was not immediately convinced by “Leave Right Now”, which became one of the defining songs of his career.
“I didn’t like it at all when I first heard it.”
He explained that he had initially wanted to move away from ballads after recording songs including “Evergreen”, “The Long and Winding Road” and “You and I”.
“I didn’t want to do that kind of song. I’d done Evergreen, I’d done The Long and Winding Road, You and I. I just didn’t want to do a ballad.”
Young said he preferred more soulful material, including “Your Game” and “Friday’s Child”, and worried that another ballad would feel uninspired.
“I just thought, no, it’s going to be so boring to come back with a ballad.”
Producer Stephen Lipson and manager Simon Fuller encouraged him to pursue the song. Young eventually warmed to it, particularly after strings were added to the arrangement.
Will Young Announces 25th Anniversary UK Tour
Young is preparing to celebrate 25 years since his Pop Idol victory with the Evergreen 25th Anniversary Tour, a newly announced 16-date UK run scheduled for February and March 2027.
The singer will perform with his full band, revisiting hits from across his career. The tour marks a milestone for the artist whose victory in 2002 launched a career spanning more than two decades.
