Is Will Young retiring from pop music altogether?

4 April 2018, 09:59 | Updated: 4 April 2018, 10:04

Will Young is completely done with releasing pop records, he has said in a new interview, claiming he “would never put out a record again”.

Speaking to The Express, the former Pop Idol winner opened up about his struggles with fame and life in the public eye, saying that when he quit Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 he “was unwell. In the weeks leading up to Strictly all I could think about was how could I get out of doing the show.”

“I knew I didn’t have the strength, that I wasn’t in the right place and that I would do myself real damage. I actually looked into the easiest way to break my legs so I couldn’t dance. That’s how bad it was.”

Not only is Young effectively retiring from pop music, he’s shedding the accoutrements of his career too - by planning to sell his BRIT Awards: “People think I am mad to get rid of my Brits but to me they are just a reminder of a not very happy time in my life.”

Young stars in Baz Luhrmann's new stage version of Strictly Ballroom in London's West End. The singer tweeted a video from a cancelled performance last week:

Oh NO! Water pipe burst at Piccadilly Theatre, show cancelled but audience was amazing for first night!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/8nclUT6BVn

— Will Young (@willyoung) March 29, 2018