Pop Idol pair 'brilliant', says Will's dad

The father of Pop Idol winner Will Young today said he and his wife were very proud of their son following his shock success.

Will, 23, pipped bookies’ favourite Gareth Gates, 17, to win last night’s final of the television talent show which has gripped the nation.

Today his parents, Robin, 51, and Annabel, 49, from Hungerford, Berkshire, paid tribute to their son before adding a note of consolation to the beaten finalist.

Mr Young, a director of an engineering firm, said: ‘‘We’re very proud. There are no losers, they are both winners. I thought the pair of them were brilliant.’’

Will, a university graduate, received 51.3% of the votes in the grand final to end the search for Britain’s newest pop star.

A total of 8.7 million votes were cast last night in a matter of hours for the ITV1 show.

On winning Will said: ‘‘I just cannot get my head round it to be honest.

‘‘I am absolutely ecstatic. It’s something I have always wanted to do and throughout this competition it’s just felt more and more right to sing. I am really ready for it.’’

After the show, Will and Gareth, from Bradford, joined the other eight finalists for a party at the television studios in South Bank, London.

The celebrations continued back at the Marriott Hotel in Maida Vale, north London, which has been home to the finalists during the show’s 18-week run.

A hotel employee said: ‘‘Will and his family were clearly enjoying themselves. A lot of champagne was drunk.’’

An elated Will left the hotel at 8.40am today without commenting and was whisked away in a silver chauffeur-driven Mercedes car.

His debut record, a double A-side called Evergreen and Anything Is Possible, will be released soon and he is expected to film the accompanying video at a mystery location this week.

Former choirboy Gareth had gone into last night’s final as the bookies’ 2/7 favourite after winning the nation’s hearts as he battled to overcome a stammer throughout the contest.

After his defeat, he said of Will: ‘‘He is just absolutely wonderful. I must say that he is an absolutely awesome guy.

‘‘If there’s one person who deserves it, it’s Will. We are really good friends.’’

But Gareth’s disappointment was tempered by news that he had been offered a recording contract by Simon Cowell, the show’s acid-tongued judge and music business mogul.

Gareth left the hotel at 11.25am today, mumbling: ‘‘I’m okay’’ to waiting fans, before being driven away in the same silver Mercedes.

The 10 Pop Idol finalists are to come together again to perform two sell-out concerts at Wembley Arena on March 14 and 15.

Today a pop industry expert predicted that Will was destined for a ‘‘sure-fire’’ No 1 with his first record release but questioned how long his success would last.

Smash Hits editor Emma Jones said Will should learn lessons from the experience of Popstars victors Hear’Say, whose popularity has waned since they shot to stardom last year.

‘‘The show will undoubtedly be an incredible launchpad for a sure-fire No 1.

‘‘But lessons can be learnt from the Hear’Say experience where public support and press support began to grow sour as time went on.

‘‘Life as a pop star will be hard work and he will have to have a lot of stamina and determination to cope with that.

‘‘He will have to prove himself twice over as a credible pop star in his own right and not just a winner of a TV show.’’