SEVENTEEN years ago, a fresh-faced Will Young won Pop Idol and went on to become one of the few talent show contestants to have a long successful career, not just as a singer, but as an actor on stage and screen.

Having seen him a few times over those years it is easy to see why that’s happened. He is always engaging and chats with the audience, making each show feel special, and despite feeling under the weather, tonight’s gig was no exception. His voice is as soulful as ever and adds a real feeling of warmth to the evening.

Will started the show by emerging from a wooden crate in the middle of a stage that had the feel of somewhere in the middle of being decorated with step ladders appearing along with a plank bridging the two raised platforms for the drums and keyboards.

A soulful version of the Doors classic Light My Fire made an early appearance and really highlighted the quality of Will's voice as did Changes mixed in with an excellent version of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On.

A stripped back medley of Old Time Love, Love Is A Matter Of Distance and Love The One You’re With came half way through the set and saw the audience briefly return to their seats before they were up and dancing again.

The band were excellent and mixed just right to fill the venue with a lovely warm sound that was the perfect accompaniment to that voice.

In a show where everything was just about perfect my personal favourite moments came in the form of a cover of the Kate Bush classic Running Up That Hill mixed in with Losing Myself and Leave Right Now.

All in all, a near perfect evening of soulful pop.