Will Young remembers “awful” experience meeting Julia Roberts

Will Young has recalled his “awful” experience of meeting Julia Roberts for the first time.

Appearing on BBC’s The One Show on Wednesday (April 24), the former Pop Idol star was asked by hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas about the kind of stories he’ll be telling crowds on his upcoming UK tour.

Young then recalled the time he was left sweating and embarrassed after he made a joke that didn’t quite land when he met the Notting Hill star for the first time.

The singer said: “I was singing at the LA BAFTAs. She was in the dressing room and I got a bit tongue-tied and I just was looking at her and thinking ‘oh god, that’s Julia Roberts.’ 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’.

“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.”

Earlier this year, Roberts admitted that she “loathed” playing a typical Hollywood star in Notting Hill.

Speaking to director Richard Curtis in a British Vogue interview, Roberts said: “Honestly, one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was your movie, playing a movie actress. I was so uncomfortable!”

“I mean, we’ve talked about this so many times, but I almost didn’t take the part because it seemed – oh, it just seemed so awkward. I didn’t even know how to play that person,” she added.