|
The University of Exeter has been Pop Idol crazy because one of
the two finalists, Will Young, is a graduate of the college.
Will graduated
with a politics degree last year. But he also left his mark during
his studies, with the university's Guild of Students hoping it will
be able to boost his chances of winning in the final on Saturday
night.
Guild president
Luke Pollard said: "The campus has been 'Will-crazy' for some time.
It's actually also the election time for the Guild too, so there
are 'vote for...' posters all over the place. But the ones that
stand out are Will's.
"We've been
encouraging as many people as possible to vote for him since he
got into the final 10."
 |
|
The
final will be shown live at the university's Lemon Grove club
|
Though Will
himself has left the university, there are still supporters of the
singer still at the college who have been including studying Will's
progress in their timetables.
Luke Pollard
said: "A lot of people that he worked with are still here. For instance,
last year he took part in a fashion show we had for our Rag celebration
which raised money for charity."
But with the
final just around the corner, all the stops are being pulled at
Exeter to enjoy the final. Luke Pollard said: "We're going to have
the final broadcast on the screen in the Lemon Grove, which is the
university's club. It's going to be a Will-tastic weekend!"
But whichever
way the vote does go on Saturday night, many at the college hope
that a certain alumni will return no matter what the outcome.
Luke said: "We
do hope he'll find the time in his busy schedule to come back and
visit."
 |
|
Some
10,000 hopefuls auditioned for the Pop Idol contest
|
William Young
made his first big impression in Pop Idol by standing up to judge
Simon Cowell after he criticised his performance as "distinctly
average". Up until then he had been one of the less outspoken and
showy contestants.
But not one
to take things lying down, the 23-year-old told Cowell he did not
agree with his opinion, much to the delight of the remaining contestants.
And the following week, Cowell was big enough to admit he had been
wrong and told a grinning Will, "You've humbled me".
Admitting that
his own pop idol is George Michael, Will
said of his singing: "I know this sounds cheesy, but singing gives
me so much joy, I love it so much. I think you are lucky if you
get to do something you really love doing.
Will and fellow
finalist Gareth Gates have been travelling the country this week
in election-style "battle buses", gathering support ahead of the
final vote.
 |
|
The
university hopes a certain alumni will make a return visit
|
On Saturday
night's live final, they will be required to sing three songs each
before the panel.
They will perform
the double-A side single, to be released by the winner, but will
also sing whichever track the panel thinks was their strongest during
the series.
Some 10,000
hopefuls auditioned for the contest, which has had a regular audience
of more than nine million viewers.
When it finishes,
the winner will have to live up to their reputation as a pop idol,
by signing up to Simon Cowell's record company - and then make it
big in the world of pop for real.
|
