Will Young has revealed that he is now neighbours with Gareth Gates, 23 years after they first competed in Pop Idol.
Will, 45, revealed on the Magic Radio Breakfast Show this week that he has a surprising new neighbour from his past.
Speaking to his co-host Harriet Scott, the Pop Idol icon revealed that he has recently ditched the rat race and headed for the countryside, but accidentally become neighbours with his former Pop Idol rival.
‘I recently moved to the countryside and I love it, my dogs love it, everyone’s happy,’ he revealed on the radio.
‘I haven’t been there very long in this new place – it’s not a big town – and I get the train down from London, I get in the cab and this is how I found out who else lives in this town when the cabbie says to me, ‘Oh are you going to Gareth Gates’ house?’
‘Gareth Gates lives in the same town I’ve just moved to!’
The singer added that he was shocked by this revelation and questioned what the ‘chances’ were.
‘What are the chances that the two people in the final of Pop Idol – 23 years on – end up living in the same town.’
He then joked that he’s ready to ‘take him on’ and joked about previously beating Gareth, 40, on Pop Idol.
‘I think we’re going to turn up at the local talent show and I’m going to take him on again and I’m going to win – absolutely!! I haven’t messaged him yet because I’ve been rushing around but he’ll know now. And I’m trying to find out where his house is!!’ he said.
Over two decades ago, in 2001, Will and Gareth were pitted against each other as the finalists in Pop Idol. The duo battled it out in the competition but in February 2002, it was announced that Will had cinched the win with his hit song Evergreen.
Will won the competition with 4.6 million (53.1%) votes, just 500,000 more than Gates.
Since their Pop Idol days, both Gareth and Will have gone on to release music, with Gareth also turning his vocal talent to musical theatre.
The singer has appeared in several West End productions over the past few years and also appeared on other reality competition shows such as Dancing On Ice.
More recently, Gareth impressed fans last year as he was the sole victor of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. The actor made fans cry when he broke down in tears and spoke about his struggles in his early childhood.
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