Strictly contestant Will Young won’t admit he has dance skills
Pop idol winner says he's never danced without a mic in hand... but he's forgetting his formal training
IT’S been 14 years since WILL YOUNG won the first Pop Idol – and clearly time has taken its toll on his memory.
The singer became the second confirmed Strictly contestant for the new series, but seems to have forgotten his extensive dancing background.
Will claims he has never shuffled his feet without singing one of his hits at the same time.
He said: “Music is my passion and the dancing I have done has always been with a microphone in hand. Now there will be no microphone or band, just me, my partner and the dance floor.”
But Will appears to forget his time studying musical theatre at West London’s Arts Educational School.
Not to mention his 2013 Laurence Olivier Awards nomination after starring in West End musical Cabaret, where he had to dance.
In previous series, DENISE VAN OUTEN and PETER ANDRE got grief for their years of training while competing against amateurs, so it’s not surprising that Will might be being a touch economic with the truth.
A Strictly source said: “Dancing is not Will’s first love but it’s fair to say he’s had years of experience working with choreographers.
“He’s looking forward to Strictly but is daunted by the ballroom dancing with a partner. He knows he will be one of the favourites and is keen to play down expectations.
“Other performers with similar experience have been branded cheats. That’s something he’s keen to avoid.”
Will is the second confirmed name after politician ED BALLS. Actress LESLEY JOSEPH and JUDGE RINDER are set to be formally announced as part of this year’s line-up too.
Will was not shy of fighting back when SIMON COWELL criticised his Pop Idol performance. I can’t wait for his fiery showdowns with CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD.
What a dirty shower
IT takes a lot to shock Celebrity Big Brother viewers but Monday night’s episode was even more eye-popping than usual.
Geordie Shore star MARNIE SIMPSON proved she has absolutely no shame when she jumped into the shower with Towie hunk LEWIS BLOOR.
She kissed him and ended up on her knees in what looked like a very intimate situation.
After getting a wash down, Marnie then ran around the house in the nude while Lewis was more than happy to flash his manhood for the camera – for the second time this series.
Meanwhile shameless reality stars STEPHEN BEAR and CHLOE KHAN also caused outrage when they kept their microphones on for what sounded like an X-rated romp together in the toilet.
There were 54 Ofcom complaints about the episode, most of which were about the shower incident.
It looks like getting rid of CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS hasn’t stopped the drama and controversy after all.
A right howler
SITCOM Raised By Wolves has been axed after viewer numbers dipped to just 1.2million – but author CAITLIN MORAN hasn’t taken the news well.
In a video out yesterday she ranted: “Due to a combination of the death of DAVID BOWIE and the unexpected Brexit vote, Raised By Wolves will not be returning to Channel 4 next year. This is, sadly, the way of global events.”
Caitlin is pushing for a third series, but last night only 2,500 people had backed her campaign.
Channel 4 cited its commitments to new programmes. It’s only fair everyone gets their turn.
Soapbox
IT seems EMMERDALE’s Chrissie White will do anything to keep Andy Sugden behind bars – as she drags Rakesh Kotecha into her vindictive scheme tonight.
After she discovers his involvement in the Mill Cottage fire, she offers to get vulnerable Rakesh out of his bleak financial situation if he does everything in his power to ensure Andy is convicted.
I recently revealed that Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy, is leaving Emmerdale after 20 years – so it looks like Rakesh will be powerless to stop two-faced Chrissie getting her way.
Meanwhile, over on NEIGHBOURS, Ned Willis’s return to Ramsay Street sparks some big trouble between newly loved-up couple Lauren and Brad.
Paradise lost for ewe, too
WHEN Channel 4 launched reality TV experiment Eden last month it claimed the show would challenge “everything about modern living”.
But all it has done is test the strength of the stomachs of Eden’s ever-shrinking audience.
Monday night’s show, the fourth and final episode before it apparently returns in the spring, dipped to a new low in terms of content and ratings.
Fewer than 800,000 tuned in – less than half the 1.7million who watched the opener – and saw vet Rob cut open a pregnant sheep and pull out its unborn lamb.
He took the ewe and the lamb back to camp where they were cooked and eaten.
Participants then put the sheep’s skull on a pole and used the lamb’s fur as a cover for a hot-water bottle.
Animal charity PETA said yesterday: “Channel 4 is airing programmes that show extreme dominance over animals and a callous disregard for them.”
Channel 4 should do the humane thing, unlike its wilderness folk, and put Eden out of its misery.