Advertisement

Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus slams Will Young: ‘He completely ignored me’

Will Young sensationally quit Strictly Come Dancing last week citing “personal reasons”, and now he has waltzed right back into the spotlight, as ex-Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus has slammed the star for a “shattering” experience.

Michelle – who followed in Will’s footsteps and won the ITV music competition in 2003, just one year after him – revealed she was delighted that she later had the opportunity to meet the singer, but claims he simply ignored her.

Copyright [Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock]

Writing in her column for local Glasgow paper the Evening Times, the 36-year-old opened up about meeting Will shortly after her victory, but admitted the chance encounter turned out to be a “terrible misfortune.”

Speaking about his music and solo career, she said: “Sadly that’s where the compliments from me to Will stop as I had the terrible misfortune to meet him once or twice immediately after I’d won the second series of Pop Idol.”

She recalled: “I tried to say a polite hello and he just completely ignored me, I mean totally looked through me and walked away when I tried to speak to him. He simply just stared, said nothing and then just walked away from me.

Copyright [Instagram/willyoungofficial]

“I remember how utterly shattering that was for me. I’d voted for him as many times as I could afford to during his final in 2002 and foolishly, I really felt he was someone that could just pat me on the back and tell me it would all be ok.”

Despite not having the greatest opinion of the Evergreen singer, Michelle claimed that she continued to be a fan of his music, but abstained from commenting on his recent appearance on the BBC ballroom.

Will quit Strictly last week after reportedly expecting it to be “easy” – but many fans speculated that the singer (fox)trotted from the dancefloor after a spat with head judge Len Goodman.

Copyright [BBC]

His departure came just days after his crossed words with Len who said: “For me, not enough Salsa. I loved the dance it was entertaining it was fun… but it’s a Salsa, and I would have liked more.”

While Will hit back: “There are 24 count of Salsa in the routine,” to which Len retorted: “Well I must say, most of them I didn’t recognise.”

In another blow, it has also been reported that his early exit from the show cost him his fee, with BBC bosses allegedly slashing his pay cheque from £25,000 to £5,000 after breaking his contract.

Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday and Sunday night on BBC One.