Old Fire House (1)
I went there when I was rehearsing for the musical. We used to rehearse three times a week and go to the pub afterwards. It's a lovely pub with cheap, home-made food upstairs.

Harry's Restaurant (2)
This is the restaurant where I used to work. I was a waiter and barman, but I also used to eat there. It's a wonderful family-run restaurant.

Gandy Street
This street has a couple of really good places on it. There was a pancake cafe and some really good little clothes shops.

Double Locks (3)
The Double Locks is one of my favourite pubs and is just outside Exeter, on the canal.

Turf Locks
This is another lovely pub that is even further down on the mouth of the estuary. I can remember sizzling, summer barbecues there with my friends.

Cathedral Green (4)
Cathedral Green is one of my very favourite places and if people were looking for me they'll always find me there. I used to go to the green and write lyrics, revise and chill out. I was there a couple of months ago and I sat on the green and wrote some lyrics for my new album.

Brazz Restaurant
There were fish tanks in the restaurant. I celebrated my graduation there.

Timepiece Bar (5)
There was Timepiece bar and Timepiece restaurant but I used to go to the bar for the salsa night.

7 Wells Street (6)
Number 7 Wells Street is where I used to live. I have fond memories of practising my singing and becoming more confident as a singer.

RL Hira'a
This shop was amazing, it was a little Indian shop next door to my house.

With Thanks to Express & Echo editor Lynne Turner (C)
DO NOT TAKE THIS ARTICLE

During Will Young's dramatic rise to fame through the tv contestant Pop Idol, hundreds of stories about the singer star began to circulate.

There was the tale of him being heckled by tramps while rehearsing for Pop Idol on the dusty platforms of Exeter's King William Street multi-storey car park.

Legend also had it that he helped organise the risque Safer sex Ball at Exeter University - a night well documented for its outrageous student behaviour.

In fact, the Brit Award winners legacy shines through in the many facets of his student days in Exeter.

The Old Fire House Pub on New North Road, was one of Will's regular drinking haunts during his spell at the university.

Pub landlord Pat Paget became friendly with the former Pop Idol because of his natural charm.

On his last visit to Exeter earlier this year Will even dropped back into the pub for a pint.

Pat, landlady at the Old Fire House Pub, for 16 years, recounted: "He came in and saw me last time he was down with his mates."
"It was hilarious watching him because as there was nowhere for him to sit he had to stand in the corridor and all the girls were purposely passing him".
He is such a nice and thoughtful guy. He asked after my family -and even remembered that some of them were abroad."

Just a stone's throw away from the old Fire House, Will also waited on tables at Harry Restaurant on Longbrook Street. The restaurant is not far from where he lived in Well Street, near St. James' Station, in his third year.
Chloe Pounds, from Harry's said all the staff were very proud -but not in anyway surprised -by his achievements.
The 22 year old liked working with him because of his laid-back and approachable attitude. She remembers when Will used to serenade customers with blues music at the end of his shift.
Will also brought Chloe some chocolates to cheer her up when she was going through a difficult patch with her boyfriend.

She said:"what you see on TV is what you get -he is a genuinely nice guy, he is sweet and friendly. He was always a lovely person when he worked here and he would chat to the staff.

Fond memories are also held of Will by his personal tutor, Dr Larbi Sadiki, from Exeter University's Politics department.
Dr Sadiki, co-ordinator of the university's MA in Middle Eastern Politics, said Will was a popular topic of convosation within the department: "it's really amazing as in the classroom there's always talk about Will -it seems he has really never left us. We are all very proud of him and we feel he was one of our kids. In some ways he epitomoises how students can study and follow other interests. He was a friendly team player, had a lot of friends and was very modest. I think it all must be quite overwhelming for him but we are all very happy for him and would love him to visit us again."

Following his success of Pop Idol, Will has now won a Brit Award as well as becoming TV personality of the year.

But if Pop Idol judges Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nikki Chapman, and DJ Dr Fox think they were the first to talent-spot Will -they should think again.

It was Willy's exclusive fashion shop owner Susie Jackson who noticed Will when he walked into her store on Grandy Street.
She then asked him to model for her at a fashion show in 2000, at the Phoenix Centre.
Susie said: "he just came in the shop and I thought he looked nice and had a presence and charisma which is very important."
"It helped that he had acted when he did the modelling as you need the confidence to get up there."
"Will was great and everyone really liked him. I think he has got a great voice so i'm not surprised by his success. He's got talent -and that shines through."

Typed put by me Hannah, Please ask before taking, as it has taken me a LONG TIME to type up
Taken from the Express & Echo Wednesday July 16th 2003

We all know Will likes to experiment with his look sometimes but surely shopping in a women's section of a London department store is taking things too far?!

Our photographer caught the star picking out some very pretty items last week. Humm, maybe Will thinks women's clothing is better for layering up in the cold weather?!

Ok, so perhaps he was busy buying a present for a girl pal! We hope so, because even though he usually has great taste in clothes, not even Will would look good in a dress!!!

(taken from sneak 2nd-8th March 2004)

WE BRITS continue to embrace the most unlikely popstars.
Take Will Young, an openly gay singer with a degree in political science who appeals mainly to respectable mums and their teenage daughters.

Throw in immaculate manners, reality TV (he won Pop Idol in 2002) and a powerful backroom Svengali in one-time Spice Girls guru Simon Fuller and you have a success story that would be virtually unthinkable anywhere else.

And on the evidence of this, his debut solo tour, he is here to stay.

At one point in his career when most talent-show winners start to contemplate a painful slide back into obscurity, Young is rising to the challenge of staying on top.

Last year's Friday Child was remarkably accomplished album.
And this show suggested he has many of the attributes to take on the mantle of George Michael -and maybe even become the long-term successor to Cliff Richard.
The reception, as he begins his set from behind a net curtain, was rapturous. Bouquets and requests were tossed onstage and stewards had their work cut out restraining the female admirers who attempted to clamber closer to their idol.

I'm so excited that I've got the giggles,' said the self-effacing Young, before delivering a collection of tasteful dance tunes and jazzy ballads.

But while his vocals have developed, his honeyed tones are still too sweet to express a wide range of emotions.

The singer was impressive on superior soul tracks such as 'Out Of My Mind', 'Stronger' and the Ivor Novello Award-winning 'Leave Right Now'.

But this performance lacked grit on the funkier workouts: a cocktail-jazz cover of OutKast's zany 'Hey Ya!' single was gutless in comparison to the original.

That said, the intimate, considered stylings of the Friday's Child songs reiterated the striking improvements made since 2002's From Now On, Young's rushed first album.

And this tour which visits Birmingham Symphony Hall tomorrow and continues until June 19, with extra dates later in the summer, should at least silence those who doubts his staying power

Taken from the Daily Mail Friday 11th June

Please don't take this article or without my permission as it took me ages to type and scan -email me first
link at bottom of this page

This month we will see Will Young performing across the UK with a number of tour dates in your area.

Will Young will be performing hits from both his albums across the UK this month. He will also be showing new material from his 3rd album which he is about to start working on. On a high after winning 'Best Single' at this years Brit Awards (2005) for "Your Game", he will also be covering hit songs including "Friday's Child" and "Leave Right Now" showing that he is capable of a diverse and eclectic mix of music.

Throughout 2003 Will had been working on his song writing and singing ability, allowing him to contribute more to the creative process and produce an album with much more of his own sound. "Now I feel like I have my own sound", Will reports on his latest album "Friday's Child". "There's space on this album. If you can sing, you don't need to fill it with whizzes and bangs. You can hear the voice and it just makes more sense".

"Friday's Child" demonstrates just how strong his vocals are with a collection of more mature and accomplished tracks. "I wanted to concentrate on writing when I took time off after the release of the first album. It had been a bit of a crazy, so I felt that I should take time to mature as an artist and build my skills as a lyricist and songwriter."

It is an engaging mix of soul, funk and jazz, which focuses on Will's amazing vocals. "I've always wanted to find a sound that's very me, and it really excites me because I really feel that I can hold my head high and say to people that I've done just that".

Milton Keynes welcomes Will as part of the Milton Keynes Music & Arts festival, taking place over the 11th - 24th July. Along with special guests, he will be providing a fantastic finale to the festival. The performance takes place at Campbell Park in the centre of Milton Keynes, in the form of a 'picnic style' concert. Gates open for the concert at 4pm, with music beginning from 7:30pm.

The concert is just part of a series of performances by Will Young throughout the UK during July. He will be performing at Norfolk Blickling Hall on this 16th July and then at Newmarket Racecourse on 29th July.

Will Young's DVD 'Live In London' is out now. Please don't take this article or Pictures without my permission as it took me ages to type and scan -email me first, link at bottom of this page

Which is why pop star Will Young thinks it's time for a change...

"Who set up this interview for 9.30 in the morning?" croaks Will Young, as he plonks himself down at the table opposite me.

From this, I gather he's just not a morning person. And if looks are anything to go by, the normally fresh-faced 27-year-old, who captured the nation's hearts on reality TV show Pop Idol, could do with a good night's sleep. Sipping his coffee, he looks bleary eyed and slightly dishevelled.

Yet, despite his apparent tiredness, he remains gracious as I mutter my apologies, telling him there's nothing I'd have liked better than a lie-in.

"I really don't fret about the way I look. That's a dangerous road to go down," he says, when I ask him if he worries about his appearance. "The only thing I do differently now is whack on a hat and a pair of dark glasses. At least that covers most of my face," he laughs.

I'm usually doing something daft when I'm snapped by paparazzi. You wouldn't believe the number of times I've been pictured getting a parking ticket, locking myself out of my house and doing anything other than something cool." Catapaulted to fame "Being famous is like inverted teenage peer pressure," he continues. "When you're younger, you worry about ridiculous things. As you grow up you realise there are more important things in life. Then you become famous and it starts all over again - everyone thinks they know you so you worry about what complete strangers think of you, which is crazy"

It can't have been easy for Will, being catapulted to fame instantly, and then having to come out as gay in public, too. He concedes that he didn't have a chance to make any mistakes during what must have been a daunting experience, singing live in front of millions of viewers.

"I never really find performing that nerve-wracking," he says. "I get more intimidated by other things. Yesterday I was meeting friends of friends I'd never met before and that made me more nervous than going on stage at Wembley."

Two Brit Awards, four number one singles and two number one albums later, has he got to grips with stardom?

"I'm a very independant person and I've always loved my own space," he says. "So part of me will never get used to it as I still find the whole fascination with celebrity bizarre."

"I never read anything written about me any more, it's just not beneficial. I can have the most amazing review, but then the writer might say 'I didn't like his socks', and that's what I'll pick up on and worry about. You have to be mentally tough to work in the music industry. For the first two years after Pop Idol I was literally - work, work, work. At that point, I didn't really focus on anything else apart from my career"

Currently Will is channelling his energies into acting. He starred alongside Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins in the film Mrs Henderson Presents. "I'm keen to land more acting roles, he says. "I find it less inhibiting than singing. People don't fuss, you simply turn up, do your bit and leave. There's no messing about. Having said that, I don't want to end up just acting, because I know my music will always come first."

Horrendous pop star
Dubbed as 'posh', Will grew up in Berkshire with his non-identical twin brother, Rupert, and older sister, Emma. He has never tried to hide his middle class roots - his Mum, Annabel, runs a children's nursery, his Dad, Robin, owns an engineering business, and Will attended boarding school.

"There are areas of my personal life, like my family, I don't talk about," he says. "But we're pretty close, and I'm fortunate that they accept me for who I am, regardless. My parents have been a massive influence on me. Thet taught me to stand up for myself and they always let me get on with my life."

This includes his need to take time out for himself, something Will finds difficult. "I hate sitting not doing anything. I feel as though I should be achieving constantly," he says. "But I think I'm slowly getting better at it."

"I relax by watching films and I keep myself in shape by doing contemporary dance and ballet. I enjoy it, but let's face it, it's a bit tragic isn't it? I'm an horrendous pop star - I should be doing something cool like street dance!"

Will is also learning to delegate. "I find it very hard to let go - I'm a bit of a control freak, but I've turned over a new leaf this year.

"I'd like to take a year off to explore the UK. I'm going through a real period of just loving being English," he confides. "After all we have such a sense of history and culture in this country.
"And there are so many things we do that no one else does, right down to our tiny cafes where you can buy proper bacon sandwiches. In fact, I could spend a whole year just trying to discover London - as there's so much to see. I love living here."

Back to school for Will?
Another of Will's plans is to return to studying. "I'd like to do a psychology degree," he says. "And there's no reason why I might not want to do something completely different at 30.

"I think it's a fantastic age. You've become comfortable in your own skin and it's a turning point where you can assess your life to see what's really important.

"I'm just trying to make a well-balanced life, and am really proud that despite everything, I've managed to stay sane and I quite like who I am."

Will is a bit coy when I ask if there's a special someone to share it all with - he is notoriously private when it comes to matters of the heart.

"I used to believe that there was someone for everyone, but I'm not so sure that I do any more.

"I'm realistic about these things," he says, "and a lot of it comes down to circumstances. One of the best things about what I do is that I get to meet a lot of people, which in a way does make it easier to find someone.

"I'm not saying there isn't somebody out there for me". He laughs, "I could still be holding out for my Mr Darcy"

Will Young's album Keep On is out now on Sony BMG. The Keep On Live UK tour begins on 12 September....

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