Will Young has revealed his ‘awful’ encounter with Hollywood actress Julia Roberts – and it causes him to break out into a cold sweat to this day.

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

Will was grilled by hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas about what stories the Pop Idol star will tell on his shows, to which he recalled one mortifying moment with Julia, 56.

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Will said: ‘I was singing at the LA BAFTAs. She was in the dressing room and I get a bit tongue-tied and I just was looking at her and thinking “oh god, that’s Julia Roberts” and all I had in my head was the Pretty Woman theme tune.

‘Then she said: “you’re the guy from American Idol” and I said: “no Pop Idol”. Then I said: “Wouldn’t it be funny if it was called Pup Idol and everyone brought their puppies”.

Will Young revealed his ‘awful’ encounter with Julia Roberts as he appeared on The One Show with Imelda Staunton on Wednesday

Will was grilled by hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas about what stories the Pop Idol star will tell on his shows, to which he recalled one mortifying moment with Julia, 56

‘She just looked at me. I know. It’s really odd. Her assistant just moved her away. I’m actually sweating telling this story.

‘I started sweating and the make-up artist was like “god, you’re sweating quite a lot”. And I said: “yeah I know, I’m fine. It’s just so hot.”

‘It was just awful. But I think people need to hear these stories.’

Viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, saying: ‘Great lineup of guests … how lovely is Imelda Staunton and the fabulous @willyoung’.

‘Love me some 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 pull out of Strictly in 2016 as ‘the hardest point’ of his entire career.

The singer, who was diagnosed with complex PTSD and suffering with extreme panic attacks, said he went against medical professionals’ advice and competed on the BBC show at the time he wasn’t well enough to.

He heartbreakingly told how he was ‘having panic attacks 24 hours a day’ and he couldn’t even leave the house to go to the shops due to his anxiety.

Viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, saying: ‘Great lineup of guests … how lovely is Imelda Staunton and the fabulous @willyoung’

Will said he became tongue tied talking to her as he is such a big fan of Pretty Woman and came out with a bizarre comment which makes him sweat to this day

He recalled: ‘She said: “you’re the guy from American Idol ” and I said: “no 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 pull out of Strictly in 2016 as ‘the hardest point’ of his entire career (pictured with professional dancer Karen Hauer)

The star, who is now back with a new single Falling Deep, said on the How To Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast on Wednesday: ‘I wish I had experienced it when I wasn’t ill because I would’ve loved it!’

‘I love dancing, I trained in ballet and contemporary. I was actually really excited about doing the show but just leaving the house going 20 yards to the corner shop was hard.

‘I was in the middle of a protracted breakdown and PTSD, and I learned very quickly I wasn’t able to do this. It was a heightened agoraphobia. Imagine having panic attacks 24 hours a day. I don’t know how I managed it, to be honest.’

‘I don’t see it as a failure but I see it as probably the hardest point of my career.’

Will – who was paired with pro Karen Hauer – added he’d choose a male partner, if he were to compete on Strictly now –  an option that wasn’t presented to him back in the day.

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 inaugural Pop Idol series in 2002, also said backlash from the show left him feeling unwelcome in the music industry.

He explained: ‘I think for a long time there was backlash to Pop Idol. There was quite a backlash and I found that really hard.

‘So I’d go to things and hear people slagging me off. People who were my heroes. So I felt very unwelcome within music. I think that took me a long time to shake – maybe I’ve never really shaken it.’

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

However, Will added with over 20 years in music now, he feels more settled and proud of his longevity.