Gareth Gates praises 'brave' Will for coming out

Gareth Gates has praised fellow Pop Idol Will Young for coming out.

He says he has known Will is gay since the pair got through to the finals of the ITV show.

The singer says Will has never kept his homosexuality a secret and thinks it's "no big deal".

He told the Sun: "I have always known about him. It's no big deal for him or for us. He's still the Will that we all know and love.

"I think it was really brave for him to come out to everyone."

Gareth adds he has turned to God to help him come to terms with his new life.

He said: "Church is something that is always there for you. You are able to go to it in times of need, when you haven't got anywhere to turn.

"It is really good to have something there where you can get the answers. I have been there a lot recently."

Gareth has just been named as the new face of Pepsi with a £750,000 (€1.2m) deal.