truly talented

Podcast of the week in the Guardian & Radio Times. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radi ... f-the-week http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-07- ... mo-sapiens

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08z242s

Will Young reveals why he scrapped a gay kiss from his All Time Love video 11:06 26th July 2017 by Ifan Llewelyn Comments CELEBS Press Will Young has opened up about being an out gay man in the music industry. In the first episode of his new podcast Homo Sapien with Chris Sweeney, available for free on iTunes now, the pop star discusses how he was dissuaded from doing an on-screen gay kiss, and dancing with a male mannequin in a music video. He said: “I remember years ago, I’d probably left T4 or something like that, and was off to a premiere, it was for the song All Time Love and they said, ‘What do you feel about kissing a man on the lips in the video?’. “I actually rang up my mum and dad, and they were both like ‘Yeah, f*** it, do it’. But I didn’t do it, everyone agreed no, but actually that was only because I was thinking of my career. “Do the maths – how many people want to see a man kiss a man, in comparison to how many people don’t? More people don’t. But now I slightly regret it.” Related: This is what happened when Will Young first went on Grindr… He then went on to talk about a conversation he had with his record label about him dancing with a male mannequin in the music video for Let It Go… “I danced with a male mannequin and the record company started saying things, trying to get around the fact that they couldn’t say ‘We shouldn’t have this in the video’, because that would seem too homophobic,” he recalled. “I think one of the marketing guys, I won’t name him, but I’ll put it on Twitter, he said ‘Oh well I just think it would be a reflection of the downward turn of Will’s career’. “Basically what he wanted to say was ‘He’ll lose records by dancing with a male mannequin’, and to be honest I probably have done. “ Also in the first episode, the pair interviewed journalist Owen Jones, who opened up about his own experiences, being in love with his best-friend who was a Christian Fundamentalist, and of coming out of the closet. “I just didn’t want to be gay, that’s the brutal truth of it,” he said. “I convinced myself I was bisexual. Bi now, gay later. It’s terrible for genuine bisexuals that, people like me that… people like me who have problems. “The reason I came out was because I met this guy, who was captain of the rowing team, and when I started going out with him there was a logical ‘Might was well come out now I suppose’.” Will and Chris’ podcast is available to listen on iTunes now, with new episodes released weekly. For more information visit homosapienspodcast.com http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/news/latest/8102...ime-love-video/

Sitting at 4 in the Podcast Chart. Will and Chris must be delighted. :D

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/radio/2017/07/24/Copyright-Laura-Lewis-Q4A5966-3-low-res-large_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqVnGZDHLVbaDWtLqzwQh5-VXf650NyGCxIUSN5QkxoTQ.jpg http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/radio/2017/07/24/Copyright-Laura-Lewis-Q4A6042-3-low-res-xlarge_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq1N-0BbrGahnullJmqzE3fwWBR3W8i_BpdASmJCKKq2U.jpg Telegraph Culture Radio Podcasts Will Young on his new LGBT podcast Homo Sapiens: 'It's inspired by Woman's Hour' Pop star Will Young with film director Chris Sweeney CREDIT: LAURA LEWIS Dylan Jones 25 JULY 2017 • 7:00AM Woman’s Hour is one of Radio’s most well-respected, best-loved institutions, with an army of devoted fans - among them many men, including pop star Will Young and film director Chris Sweeney. However it was listening to their favourite show that the pair, best friends since Sweeney directed a video for Young, had an epiphany: why didn’t a similar type of show exist for LGBT people? And so their new podcast Homo Sapiens was born: launching today, it aims to provide the same kind of therapeutic but incisive discussion that Jenni Murray, Jane Garvey et al do. “We’re not doing an LGBT Woman’s Hour, but that’s where the idea spawned from,” says Young, who has been a representative of queerness in the mainstream ever since he came out following his victory on Pop Idol in 2001. “There isn’t a space that we felt was really fulfilling the role of talking to people from an LGBT perspective, and even more simply – two gay guys in their thirties who want to chat to people who we relate to.” Will Young As their podcast launches, Young is very clear about what they want to achieve with it. “Two words,” he says quickly “Michelle Obama. She’s the ultimate really.” Though he is moving into unchartered territory: “I didn’t even know what podcasts were at first though,” he muses. “I kept on saying ‘iPod.’ Such jokey casualness belies the seriousness of the project at heart, however. Interviewees have been carefully chosen to reflect the spectrum of LGBT experience, as Sweeney is at pains to point out. Some of the names on the roster for the first series include journalist Owen Jones, screenwriter Russell T Davies, Nigerian activist Bisi Alimi, singer-songwriter John Grant and transgender actress Rebecca Root. 
“We wanted it to be people who had done something progressive or transgressive for the LGBT+ community,” says Sweeney. “Bisi Alimi, for example, has done extraordinary stuff. And we can talk about the issues around that. But then Bisi’s also an extraordinary person. So we can talk to him, as a person, and about his life as well as his activism.” Screenwriter Russell T Davies Screenwriter Russell T Davies CREDIT: JAY WILLIAMS Indeed, Young says the emphasis is on conversation, rather than interviewing. “We’re not grilling people,” says Will. “Neither of us want to push people on uncomfortable topics. So it’s just an environment for people to chat. And not necessarily about sensational things. We’re not looking for headlines like ‘oh my god, ‘John Grant said this’ or ‘Owen Jones’ said this.’” “Actually, when Chris and I interviewed Owen [Jones], he talked about coming out as gay, and that was interesting because it was something we could all identify with.” “Everyone knows loads about Owen’s political opinions,” says Chris. “But I don’t think Owen ever really talks about himself. And it was really nice to talk to him in a much more informal way. Someone who’s so staunch with their beliefs, and works really hard at getting people to change their opinions and stuff…where does that come from? What was the six-year-old version of that person like?” One of the most intriguing conversations Will and Chris had was with Rebecca Root, one of Britain’s first ever openly trans actors. Last year she shot into the limelight after starring in critically-acclaimed BBC comedy/drama Boy Meets Girl. She’s also been making waves in cinema, with several projects in the pipeline, including The Sisters Brothers, a high-budget Hollywood western, alongside John C Reilly and Jake Gyllenhaal slated for release next year. “When we spoke to Rebecca Root, we were talking about the role she’d just done in Boy Meets Girl, and the film with Jake Gyllenhaal,” says Sweeney. “And then that conversation moved on to ‘do you feel a responsibility to represent the trans community in acting?’ And she was saying ‘yes and no - actually I just want to be an actress. But I’m aware that I’m also at the vanguard of trans people being cast in things.’” “So we learned from her that you kind of have to represent in some ways. Because if there’s a kid out there who’s trans, and is looking to you for guidance and what to do next, and wants to be an actress, you do have that responsibility. If they Google it and Rebecca comes up, it’ll be her who they look to. And that’s just really fascinating. Because she’s done all this work, it’s moved her own career forward, and she can now be cast in things just as a woman, and no-one talks about the fact that she’s trans. Which is amazing because it means now other people can follow.” But it’s clear that Will and Chris also want the podcast to be less about the political side of LGBT issues, and more about the personal side. They want to explore what makes their subjects tick. “I think there’s something quite modern about NOT dwelling on someone’s LGBTness as the reason we’re talking to them,” says Chris. “Yes!” agrees Will. “Having had fifteen years of ‘gay pop star Will Young!’ or ‘middle class Will Young’ or ‘posh Will Young’ – obviously people want to put you in a box – but I think it’s much more interesting to just find out about the person. If we move in to discuss certain issues then great. But it’s coming from someone as a person rather than as a number.” Homo Sapiens is out now. Listen at homosapienspodcast.com http://homosapienspodcast.com

Hope you enjoy the evening. I know tickets sold out very quickly.

Taken at Manchester airport, probably flying home from Pitch Battle. hh 10m It was a delight to meet @willyoung this morning and great to see he is Joining Jack @alljoinjack thanks for your support, safe travels x

Will was the only judge that didn'make it all about him and allowed his group to shine. Your Game was the perfect song choice and the Leeds Contemporary Singers worthy winners. :cheer: UtY1xf3STfs

Tweet from Will from rehearsals for tonight's final. I've got a cold!! Still very excited for our performance on @BBCPitchBattle with @LCSsingers!

As dusk made way for night, the film and music tent made for a hot and sensual atmosphere for Will Young’s Summer Jazz sessions. Young never felt a natural fit for the manufactured world of reality tv but seems to have found his place in recent years. His jazz takes on some of his own back catalogue such as Jealousy as well as some standards of the form and reveal his voice to be a flexible, powerful instrument and in his interactions between songs reveal an artist more comfortable than he has appeared for some time. http://www.thereviewshub.com/update-day-1-...ival-2017-cont/

As dusk made way for night, the film and music tent made for a hot and sensual atmosphere for Will Young’s Summer Jazz sessions. Young never felt a natural fit for the manufactured world of reality tv but seems to have found his place in recent years. His jazz takes on some of his own back catalogue such as Jealousy as well as some standards of the form and reveal his voice to be a flexible, powerful instrument and in his interactions between songs reveal an artist more comfortable than he has appeared for some time. http://www.thereviewshub.com/update-day-1-...ival-2017-cont/

A review from Latitude.. :D .. http://www.latitudefestival.com/live-bl ... ll%20young Friday 14 July 2017 at 23:59 WILL YOUNG SMOOTHS OUT THE MUSIC & FILM ARENA While The 1975 blast out a raucous headline slot over at the Obelisk Stage, here at the Music & Film Arena it’s a whole lot more of a chilled affair. Will Young’s Summer Jazz Sessions is soothing the Friday night crowd with a whole bank of pop classics, reinterpreted in a silky style befitting the atmosphere in the tent. The five-piece supporting him are an amalgamation of the best in the business, and it shows. Their mellow and smooth versions of Phil Collins and Tears for Fears classics sit snugly with the jazz standards, members launching into moments of exquisite freestyle as the others slot into support. The mood lighting brought an extra layer of finesse, the band’s silhouettes creating a hazy light show amongst the pinks and purples. The band are in a playful mood, finding the game in everything. Jams turn into back and forth between members while scat sessions become a round of follow the leader. Will’s beaming charm shines through between songs, regaling tales of his life and his inner thoughts. Though don’t go asking him if he fancies a jump in our lake... Finishing on his own cover of ‘Evergreen’ (mixed in with a wink of Destiny’s Child) showed the transformation of Will since his Pop Idol days. He has fully established himself as a modern-day renaissance man, adding jazz to a wondrous CV of theatre and music. #music, #Will Young, #review, #Friday, #Music & Film

https://twitter.com/InformedJeff/status ... 1868779521 Jeff Lloyd‏@InformedJeff In a tent watching Will Young absolutely cane it with jazz versions of his and others' songs.

https://twitter.com/george_bowyer/statu ... 7770315776 Georgina Bowyer‏@george_bowyer Really thought provoking session on the 'art of listening' from @willyoung @LatitudeFest - thanks Will! #listening #mentalhealth #wellbeing https://twitter.com/RootsandToots/statu ... 2013566976 Roots & Toots Blog‏ @RootsandToots My spiritual home today: Just heard #WillYoung "The Art of Listening" @LatitudeFest wise/inspiring. What an emotionally intelligent chap

https://twitter.com/LatitudeFest/status ... 0559221761 Latitude Festival‏Verified account@LatitudeFest Packed audience for @willyoung at The SpeakEasy. Discussing The Art of Listening. "Look after yourself so you can be present for others"

https://twitter.com/StandardDiary/statu ... 7198105600 Londoner's Diary‏ @StandardDiary Will Young opens his Wandsworth home to promote new LGBT podcast http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoner ... 86086.html … Will set to release special LGBT podcast. Singer Will Young had The Londoner over to his Wandsworth abode last night to toast his new LGBTQ+ podcast. Titled Homo Sapiens, co-hosted by Young’s filmmaker pal Chris Sweeney and inspired by the pair’s love of Woman’s Hour, it will be released on July 25 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of The Sexual Offences Act 1967. “It was just us having conversations with people we wanted to talk to really,” Young said of guests including Owen Jones and Russell T Davies. “We also felt that there’s a place for it, and we’re amazed that it hasn’t been done before. There’s endless people we can talk to. Sandi Toksvig is our target, but she’s very busy. And we’re heading for Michelle Obama.”

:heart: https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/will-young/ Holy Moly We’ve had a lot of fun, drunk a lot of tea’ In a joint statement, Will and Chris said: ‘As ‘Woman’s Hour’ super-fans, we adored the 70th anniversary celebrations late last year – the presenters were looking back at how their programme started and how pioneering it was to show current affairs from a female perspective. ‘This sparked a conversation between us about the LGBTQ+ community and how great it would be to have a similar voice. It was a real lightbulb moment and the idea of “Homo Sapiens” was born! ‘Through recording this podcast, we’ve had a lot of fun, drunk a lot of tea, and learned a huge amount from some of the bravest, most intelligent and fun people who have paved the way for all LGBTQ+ people.’

Tweet from Will. itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/hom…. I'm so excited !!

Four wheels this time. :lol:

https://soundcloud.com/homosapienspodcast

Will Young: ‘People confuse me with Olly Murs. That tests me. I thought I was better-looking.’ Emine SanerFriday 7 July 2017 17.28 BST China in his hands … Will Young Will Young has lived in his beautiful country cottage for six months, and I can’t work out how much of the house’s contents belong to the popstar or were left by a previous, elderly, owner. There is heavy furniture, gardening books, and paintings the colour of dust; a dresser heaves with china. The other odd thing is how unselfconsciously lived-in it is. There are dishes in the sink, and the cushions on the sofa, where we sit with Young’s sausage dog between us, are not plumped. I also find the odd After Eight wrapper dotted around the floor. This isn’t a criticism. If I’m expecting visitors, I cram dirty pans into a cupboard and sweep clutter under the sofa. So I like the way Young doesn’t seem to mind about impressing anyone. And I find it strange. There was probably a time when he was bothered about what people thought, but not so much now. So here he sits, wearing a mustard-coloured boxy shirt, which is modestly buttoned all the way up to the top – an odd contrast to the fact that, on his bottom half, he wears only underpants. Earlier, for the Guardian’s photographer, he was wearing a blue dress he’s bought for his mum. This weekend is London’s Pride parade. He says he was feeling “a bit laissez-faire about it” but then watched some of the BBC’s season celebrating LGBT lives to mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, “and I actually think there’s something about this weekend that’s really special, more than I realised. It’s really important to remember all those people on whose shoulders we stand. It’s all about love and strength.” Campaigner Peter Tatchell this week claimed its protest roots have become obscured by money.: “Big corporations,” he wrote, “see it as a PR opportunity to fete LGBT consumers. The ideals of LGBT equality are barely visible.” Does Young think Pride has become too commercialised, with brands co-opting the movement? How does he feel about rainbows on everything from trainers to drinks bottles? “I think it’s great. For me, Pride denotes acceptance. I think [the parade] is still important and I know some [LGBT people] feel very possessive over it and don’t feel it should be extended – to say: ‘No, this is for us, it isn’t about moving it into brands and corporations.’ But if you’re a 12-year-old kid and you go up the escalators on the underground, and there’s the rainbow [on adverts], I think what it stands for is very powerful and crosses boundaries.” Isn’t it calculating and cynical? “I don’t think it matters. I think they don’t have a choice and that’s the most important thing. Of course, brands are going to get on board, they don’t want to miss the boat.” As winner of Pop Idol in 2002, Simon Cowell’s 2002 precursor to the X Factor, Young was plucked from middle-class obscurity. Back then, it was still unusual for a mainstream star to be openly gay, particularly so early in their career. “It was scary, and I’m pleased that it has moved on so much that it’s not even really talked about.” But at the time, he says, “I felt really vulnerable.” Once he and a boyfriend had to run into a restaurant to get away from a gang who were threatening to stab them. He remembers the then Radio 1 breakfast DJ Chris Moyles making jokes about Young’s sexuality. “I mean, f***, I should have gone for him and the BBC, but people didn’t really take it seriously.” If it had happened now, “the BBC would shit themselves. But at the time I didn’t really take any notice, I thought there’s no place for me to [challenge it]. It does seem like another world, and I think it’s really important to see how far things have come. I suppose me, and everyone else who is LGBT, has lived through a really interesting time, from same-sex partnerships to marriage, and legal rights, and now we’re more understanding and enlightened on transgender people, and what it is to be gendered.” Still, Young gets abuse. He was verbally attacked just two years ago. “I screamed out to the whole street: ‘These guys are being homophobic to me and calling me a fag.’ And the whole energy of the street turned against them, and they freaked out. People started picking fights with them. It was amazing. That wouldn’t have been the case three years previously.” Young’s last studio album of his own work, 85% Proof, came out in 2015 and he has no plans to release another. Instead, he is doing other things – a return of his part as the MC in Rufus Norris’s production of Cabaret; writing a TV series, and is also about to launch Homo Sapiens, a podcast conceived by, and recorded with, his friend Chris Sweeney, who sold it to Young as a kind of Woman’s Hour but for LGBT+ people. It turned into interviews with people such as Tatchell, John Grant, Owen Jones and Rebecca Root, with Young and Sweeney talking about their own lives. The common theme, he says, is “honesty. To anyone who is in a minority, and has grown up within a shaming culture for whatever reason, there tends to be an open-mindedness and acceptance of others, and that’s one of the things I love about being a gay man. I think the theme would be having experienced being an outsider, coping with that however it came up, and a sense of openness. Everyone has had their own moments of toughness.” Young has had several. Pop Idol, he says, was “magical. Becoming famous, that’s weird. Wanting to get a singing career established – that took five or six years. Dealing with the fame thing, how I felt in my job, going into acting, having a breakdown, getting through that, getting really ill, dealing with that.” He smiles. “Now I’m here.” About five years ago, Young was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He has said it was probably caused by any number of things - being separated from his twin brother at birth (they were born six weeks prematurely), being bullied at school, or feeling shame for being gay. He experienced depersonalisation (he felt detached and couldn’t even recognise himself in a mirror) and anxiety, stopped sleeping and eating, and had suicidal thoughts. He knows he is fortunate to have had the means and time to get better, and still has treatment. It flares up sometimes. “My hypervigilance is still really bad,” he says of one of the symptoms, which makes him acutely sensitive to his surroundings and puts him on constant high alert. He went to a wedding of a friend in Portugal and his anxiety became so bad, he had to come home. “Relationships are very triggering, they’re hard for me. They’re upsetting, I feel upset talking about it. But I don’t have it bad, so there’s no point sitting there going: ‘Woe is me.’” He pulled out of the last series of Strictly Come Dancing because it was making him ill. “There was no option. What was the point? I had reached a limit. I rang my manager and I was stammering, I couldn’t even get words out and she was like: ‘This is enough now’.” At the time he said the decision was for “personal reasons” but later said it was as a result of PTSD. It’s still unusual to be so publicly vulnerable. “I’ve got nothing to be afraid of,” he says. “The worst fear is what can happen in my nervous system, there’s nothing that’s going to affect me like that.” He didn’t worry how it would affect his profile, his career, because he says “That’s not my happiness. I’d be a fool to make it my happiness because then I’d be up and down the whole time. My happiness probably lies in little moments.” He admits to being irritated when people ask him if he’s still singing, because there’s a hint of failure in the question (he is, and will be releasing a covers album – he just says he has no desire to write his own material at the moment). The TV series he is writing is a comedy about what it’s like to be a 38-year-old pop star. “I think there are just lots of funny moments,” he says. “People constantly confuse me with Olly Murs, and that crucifies my ego. I think, ‘Oh shit, he’s more important than me.’ That tests me. I thought I was better-looking than him.” A company approached him offering free teeth-whitening in return for a promotion. “I don’t particularly want to have my teeth whitened and it’s also the thing of have they seen a picture of me and just gone ‘He needs to get his teeth whitened’?” Then there’s the challenge of being famous and going on Grindr. Young told a friend he wanted to go on it because he hadn’t had sex for two years, but that he was worried because he was famous. “He just said: ‘Who cares?’ And yeah, who cares? I’m an adult.” One of the apps blocked his account because people reported it as a fake. He laughs. “That was a time then, and I think it can move into unhealthy behaviour. Now I want a relationship that is a different thing to having a shag.” Young was shopping in his local town recently and someone approached him and asked what he was doing there. “They don’t think I do anything normal.” He does have quite a pop-starry life, he points out (he has three houses for a start) but he seems live a quieter existence now. “I did try to do more of a pop star thing – go to parties and hang out with famous people and I just didn’t like it. But I think at the time I felt I should be doing that. I felt very ashamed that I didn’t have more famous friends, I thought there must be something wrong with me.” Will he go back to writing music? “It would be silly to go ‘No’, but I don’t know. There’s nothing worse than a popstar who goes ‘I’m stopping now’ and then: ‘I’m back again!’” he laughs. “People are thinking ‘Nobody gave a shit’.” There are other things he wants to do – writing, and activism around mental health and issues facing young LGBT people. “I feel much more vulnerability writing songs than I do writing scripts, or writing a piece. If a script doesn’t work, I can blame the director. If a piece doesn’t work, then it’s just my opinion. If the music doesn’t work, then I’m the face of it, and I find that harder. I just realised what makes me happy and what doesn’t.”

http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/artic...ABARET-20170704 FIRST LOOK photos of Will Young as the Emcee and Louise Redknapp as Sally Bowles have today been released, ahead of the UK tour of CABARET this autumn, opening at the New Wimbledon Theatre on Thursday 21 September 2017 and playing theatres in Blackpool, Malvern, Cardiff, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Salford, Edinburgh, Bromley, Dublin and Brighton. Internationally renowned singer/songwriter, Will Young, reprises his Olivier Award-nominated performance as the enigmatic Emcee alongside musician and presenter Louise Redknapp, who makes her stage debut as Sally Bowles in Rufus Norris's multi-award winning production of CABARET. Ever since winning the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, Will Young has been one of the UK's most popular and successful music artists. He holds the record for the fastest selling debut single in British chart history, and has enjoyed a phenomenal career in music with four No1 albums, as well as acting alongside Dame Judi Dench in the film Mrs Henderson Presents. Will made his West End debut in Cabaret and will be reprising his award winning performance. Louise Redknapp rose to fame as a member of the girl group Eternal. She left the band to carve out a successful solo career achieving an impressive twelve Top 20 singles, including the hits Naked and Stuck in the Middle and selling over 5 million records with 5 albums. Since then she has rarely left our television screens and most recently wowed the nation with her dancing skills finishing 'runner up' in the 2016 series of BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing. CABARET features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and some of the most iconic songs in musical theatre including 'Money Makes The World Go Round', 'Two Ladies' 'Maybe This Time' and of course 'Cabaret'. The production turns Weimar Berlin of 1931 into a sassy, sizzling haven of decadence, and at its dark heart is the legendary and notorious Emcee, who performs nightly at the infamous Kit Kat Klub. Since its Broadway premiere in 1966 and the famous movie version with Liza Minnelli and Oscar winner Joel Grey, CABARET has won a staggering number of stage and screen awards including 8 Oscar's, 7 BAFTA's and 13 Tony's. Norris' production has enjoyed two smash hit West End runs and has picked up 2 Olivier Awards. Rufus Norris is Director of the National Theatre and a multi-award winning theatre and opera director. For the National Theatre, he has directed The Threepenny Opera, wonder.land, Everyman, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, The Amen Corner, Table, London Road (Critics Circle Award), Death and the King's Horseman, Market Boy. Other theatre includes Vernon God Little (Young Vic), Les Liasons Dangerouses (Broadway - five Tony Award nominations), Festen (West End and Broadway) The Country Girl (Apollo) and Afore Night Came at the Young Vic (Evening Standard Award). Film credits include London Road and Broken. Choreography is by the Olivier Award-winning Javier De Frutos. In 1990, he formed The Javier De Frutos Dance Company. His work includes The Hypochondriac Bird and Affliction of Loneliness. Recently he joined forces with Sadler's Wells and The Pet Shop Boys to create a brand new dance work based on Hans Christian Andersen's story, The Most Incredible Thing. Cabaret will play at the New Wimbledon Theatre, Blackpool Opera House, Malvern Festival Theatre, Cardiff New Theatre, Leeds Grand Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre, The Lowry in Salford, Edinburgh Playhouse, Churchill Theatre Bromley, Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and Brighton Theatre Royal. CABARET - TOUR DATES 2017 Thursday 21 - 30 September Box Office: 0844 871 7646 New Wimbledon Theatre Website: ATGTICKETS.COM/Wimbledon Tuesday 3 - 7 October Box Office: 0844 856 1111 Blackpool Opera House Website: wgbpl.co.uk Tuesday 10 - 14 October Box Office: 01684 892277 Malvern Festival Theatre Website: malvern-theatres.co.uk Tuesday 17 - 21 October Box Office: 029 2087 8889 Cardiff New Theatre Website: newtheatrecardiff.co.uk Tuesday 24 - 28 October Box Office: 0844 848 2700 Leeds Grand Theatre Website: leedsgrandtheatre.com Tuesday 31 October - 4 November Box Office: 0844 871 7652 Milton Keynes Theatre Website: ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes Tuesday 7 - 11 November Box Office: 0843 208 6000 Salford Quays, The Lowry Website: thelowry.com Tuesday 14 - 18 November Box Office: 0844 871 3014 Edinburgh Playhouse Website: ATGTICKETS.COM/Edinburgh Tuesday 21 - 25 November Box Office: 020 3285 6000 Churchill Theatre Bromley Website: churchilltheatre.co.uk Tuesday 28 Nov - 2 December Box Office: 00353 1 677 7999 Dublin, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Website: www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie Tuesday 5 - 9 December Box Office: 0844 871 7650 Brighton Theatre Royal Website: ATGTICKETS.COM/Brighton Further dates to be confirmed

http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/l ... um=twitter SINGER-SONGWRITER Will Young picked up a pair of antique bicycles - and a parking ticket - when he paid a visit to Hay-on-Wye last week. Ranked as one of the most recognisable figures in British contemporary music, the 38-year-old was back in town after charming his audience at Hay Festival where he performed on stage with his band earlier this month. Rumours quickly circulated that the affable singer, who rose to fame after his success in the 2002 ITV talent show, Pop Idol, was staying at a hotel in the town centre. Word also had it that the award-winning star was spotted browsing in local antique shops – and that he may be about to settle in the area. Later he dropped by at the 16th century riverside Bridge Inn, Michaelchurch Escley where he was warmly welcomed by staff. Said pub owner, Glyn Bufton: "He was fantastic, such a nice bloke. He said he came to The Bridge because he had heard how amazing the food is, and what a stunning location we are in.” The star agreed to pose with staff for a photograph taken on the bridge over the Escley, a tributary of the River Monnow. During the afternoon, shoppers and visitors to Hay noticed Will driving a bright yellow customised van which was parked in the rear car park at Kilverts Inn and Hotel. A spokesman for the Kilverts inn and Hay Tap said he was unable to confirm whether the celebrity was staying with them. Earlier the star, nominated in 2013 for the Laurence Olivier Award for best actor in a musical after appearing in the London revival of the musical, Cabaret, had pulled up in a restricted public parking space in front of the hotel in Hay's Bull Ring. One local man said the celebrity's van had exceeded the one-hour parking limit and received a parking ticket. "What a shame for him, it probably wasn't a lot for him to pay, but for someone on a tight budget something like that could ruin their day out," he said. It is understood that Mr Young bought two veteran bikes as a result of his trawl around Hay's antique shops. The proprietor selling the bikes said that he was "extremely nice" and praised him for supporting local shops. Businesses in and around town will be hoping that the singer does not follow the advice of one of his best-known songs in which he considers whether he should 'Leave right now'.

From Digital Spy. Pitch Battle airs its first episode on BBC One – and viewers brand it "better than X Factor" What happened to the "a cappella" idea, though? Pitch Battle week one winners: Leeds Contemporary Singers BY TASHA HEGARTY 17 JUNE 2017 The BBC aired a brand new music competition tonight (June 17), as Pitch Battle saw six vocal groups and choirs battle against each other in the hopes of impressing judges Gareth Malone, Kelis and Will Young. Leeds Contemporary Singers won this week's show and will be heading straight into the live final – and they even got to sing with Will himself, which is pretty awesome.