The unkindest cut

Tucked away among the Executive Producer credits for Coriolanus, actor-director Ralph Fiennes’ updating of Shakespeare’s Roman drama to the recent Balkan War, is Will Young.

Yes, the same public school-educated Will Young who after winning the inaugural Pop Idol exactly 10 years ago went on to become a chart-topping artiste, winner of two Brit Awards, whose albums have sold more than eight million worldwide.

“If it’s a choice between buying a Ferrari and investing in this …” In other words, no contest for the wealthy Young who after “looking at a few things” was easily persuaded to put some of his money into Fiennes’ production.

As well as being one of the UK’s best-loved singers, Young had also worked as an actor from time to time – in the film Mrs Henderson Presents, on stage in Noel Coward’s The Vortex and for the small screen in programmes ranging from Skins to Miss Marple. “I’m the cameo king,” he laughs.

He was also due a cameo in Coriolanus, playing a war reporter. “It was just five lines and I found it really, really hard.”

Sadly, his efforts were in vain for after he shot his role, the filmmakers decided to expand the idea of a news anchor/journalist covering the conflict and got Channel 4’s Jon Snow to step in and give the part more weight and veracity.

So, for all his fame and fortune, Will Young remains, in this much-lauded new take on the Bard at least, yet another face on the cutting room floor.