Will Young reveals his ‘awful’ encounter with Julia Roberts which causes him to ‘break out into a cold sweat to this day’

Will Young has revealed his ‘terrible’ encounter with Hollywood actress Julia Roberts – and it still leaves him breaking out in a cold sweat to this day.

The singer, 45, is back with a new album and appeared on The One Show alongside Imelda Staunton, 68, on Wednesday to talk about his comeback, which will also see him tour Britain.

Will was quizzed by presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas about the stories the Pop Idol star will tell on his shows, recalling a frightening moment with Julia, 56.

Will said: “I sang at the LA BAFTAs. She was in the dressing room and I was a little bit tongue-tied and I just looked at her and thought “oh god, that’s Julia Roberts” and all I had in my head was the Pretty Woman theme song.

‘Then she said, “you’re the guy from American Idol” and I said, “not Pop Idol.” Then I said, “Wouldn’t it be funny if it was called Pup Idol and everyone brought their puppies?”

Will was quizzed by presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas about the stories the Pop Idol star will tell on his shows, recalling a chilling moment with Julia, 56

‘She just looked at me. I know. It’s really strange. Her assistant just moved her. I’m actually sweating as I tell this story.

‘I started sweating and the make-up artist said, “God, you’re sweating a lot.” And I said, “Yes, I know, I’m fine. It’s just so hot.”

‘It was just terrible. But I think people need to hear these stories.”

Viewers told

‘I do like Will Young, great to see him on The One Show’ and ‘Will is really nice. Bless him. xxx’.

It comes after Will described having to retire from Strictly in 2016 as ‘the hardest point’ of his entire career.

The singer, who was diagnosed with complex PTSD and suffered from extreme panic attacks, said he went against the advice of medical professionals and entered the competition. BBC showing that he wasn’t good enough at that moment.

Heartbreakingly, he said he was ‘having panic attacks 24 hours a day’ and couldn’t even leave the house to go to the shops because of his anxiety.

Viewers told

Will said he was silenced by talking to her because he’s such a big fan of Pretty Woman and came up with a bizarre comment that still makes him sweat to this day.

He recalled: ‘She said, “you’re the guy from American Idol” and I said, “not Pop Idol.” Then I said, “Wouldn’t it be funny if it was called Pup Idol and everyone brought their puppies?” ‘

It comes after Will described having to retire from Strictly in 2016 as ‘the hardest point’ of his entire career (pictured with professional dancer Karen Hauer)

The star, who is now back with new single Falling Deep, said on the website How to Fail with the Elizabeth Day Podcast on Wednesday: “I wish I had experienced it when I wasn’t sick because I would have loved it!”

‘I love dancing, I studied ballet and contemporary. I was actually really excited about doing the show, but it was hard to just leave the house and go 20 yards to the corner store.

‘I was in the middle of a long-term breakdown and PTSD, and I quickly discovered that I couldn’t do this. It was increased agoraphobia. Imagine having panic attacks 24 hours a day. To be honest, I don’t know how I did it.’

“I don’t consider it a failure, but I do consider it probably the most difficult point of my career.”

Will – who was linked to pro Karen Hauer – added that he would choose a male partner if he were to compete on Strictly now – an option he was not offered at the time.

He explained: ‘If I did it now, I would dance with a male partner. I don’t think it was an option [back then]. I don’t think it was a conversation, no.’

The singer, who won the first Pop Idol series in 2002, also said the show’s response made him feel unwelcome in the music industry.

He explained, “I think there was a backlash against Pop Idol for a long time. There was quite a bit of setback and I found that very difficult.

“So I would go to things and hear people laughing at me. People who were my heroes. So I felt very unwelcome within the music. I think it took me a long time to shake it – maybe I’ve never really shaken it before.’

‘It broke my heart. I was 22 and I heard people [talking about me]and since they didn’t like the show, they didn’t like me either.”

However, Will added that now that he has been in music for more than 20 years, he feels more comfortable and proud of his longevity.