Will tops the bill at festival

SINGER Will Young will be returning to his roots when he opens this year’s Henley Festival. He will perform a selection of his best-loved songs and showcase his latest album. Young, 31, who is related to the Brakspear brewing family, rocketed to fame after winning the inaugural ITV show Pop Idol in 2002, beating front-runner Gareth Gates. His debut single, Evergreen, was released shortly afterwards and became the UK’s fastest-selling debut single of all time, selling more than 400,000 copies on its first day. Will Young, who revealed he is gay in the same year, has had other hits, including Light My Fire (2002) and Leave Right Now (2003). He was born in Wokingham with a fraternal twin, Rupert, and an elder sister. He was educated at Horris Hill preparatory school near Newbury and Wellington College. He went on to read politics at the University of Exeter and graduated with a 2:2 honours degree.