POP Idol winners Will Young and Michelle McManus shared an emotional moment after revealing their very different experiences of the hit reality show. Will , 45, who won the first series in 2002, apologised to Michelle , 44, after revealing she endured heartache the following year when she became the second and final champion of the iconic TV contest. 2 Michelle has bravely spoken out.
2 Will said sorry to Michelle after hearing her story. Credit: PA Pop Idol ran for two series from 2001 to 2003 and was fronted by fresh-faced duo Ant and Dec as well as judges Simon Cowell , Nicki Chapman, Neil Fox and Pete Waterman. The Glaswegian singer opened up on her struggles during a heartfelt discussion on BBC Sounds' The Afternoon Show.
She said: "It was quite a misogynistic time for me being a woman and overweight and I had to live up your success as well, which I never really did. "There were things that weren't okay about that time. Although we both won the same show, we probably both had completely different experiences of it.
" READ MORE IN SHOWBIZ WEIGH TO GO Michelle McManus is slimmer than ever as she reveals 9st weight loss BACKSTAGE CLASH Michelle McManus reveals secret feud with Pop Idol star 20 years after show Will went on to land four number one albums and later took up acting as his career soared. While Michelle made history when she became the first Scottish female artist to debut atop the UK Singles Chart and then transitioned into TV presenting. After learning of her P.