Will Young has said it was an "instant decision" to include his No 1 single Evergreen on his new greatest hits album.
The star stunned 30 year old everyone in 2002 when he beat Gareth Gates to the title of Pop Idol, and he went on to release the single written for the winner.
And Will insisted it was easy to put it on his The Hits album, saying: "Oh yeah, an instant decision to put Evergreen on there - you know that's still the biggest selling song of the decade."
He added: "Which is weird because that's another thing that I forget as well - the show was so big and that song was so big and I think people, even if they weren't fans of the show, still know that song, it was so pervasive.
"No definitely, no that's No 1 on the list. Yeah and I'm doing it live on the tour as well and I can't wait because I haven't done it for three or four years."
The Leave Right Now singer insists he has never tried to shed his Pop Idol tag.
Will said: "I've always been proud of it. But as I've got older I think I've become more and more proud of what I did on that show. I mean it was terrifying, I don't think I could do it now, I actually don't know how I managed to do it then.
"But it was because I loved singing so much and wanted to do this and be where I am now. And that kind of desire can't be underestimated in anyone I don't think, in any career."
:: Will Young The Hits will be released on November 16.
The star stunned 30 year old everyone in 2002 when he beat Gareth Gates to the title of Pop Idol, and he went on to release the single written for the winner.
And Will insisted it was easy to put it on his The Hits album, saying: "Oh yeah, an instant decision to put Evergreen on there - you know that's still the biggest selling song of the decade."
He added: "Which is weird because that's another thing that I forget as well - the show was so big and that song was so big and I think people, even if they weren't fans of the show, still know that song, it was so pervasive.
"No definitely, no that's No 1 on the list. Yeah and I'm doing it live on the tour as well and I can't wait because I haven't done it for three or four years."
The Leave Right Now singer insists he has never tried to shed his Pop Idol tag.
Will said: "I've always been proud of it. But as I've got older I think I've become more and more proud of what I did on that show. I mean it was terrifying, I don't think I could do it now, I actually don't know how I managed to do it then.
"But it was because I loved singing so much and wanted to do this and be where I am now. And that kind of desire can't be underestimated in anyone I don't think, in any career."
:: Will Young The Hits will be released on November 16.
