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Will Young recalls standing up to Simon Cowell: ‘I really disliked him’
Will Young has reflected on the moment he stood up to Simon Cowell while competing on Pop Idol.
Appearing on Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail podcast, Young was quizzed about the moment he called out Cowell for the judge’s scathing remarks during a performance on the show in 2002.
Young, then 22, performed a rendition of The Doors’s “Light My Fire” on the first ever series of the singing competition.
Cowell called the performance “distinctly average”, and Young took the opportunity to call out the judge’s track record of giving aspiring singers brutal feedback.
Reflecting on that moment, Young said he knew he wanted to stand up to Cowell.
“I thought if you get a moment then people will remember you,” he said. “And then I also knew that I really disliked that man. And I’d met him before on the This Morning boy band competition.”
“And I remember thinking I really don’t like that man, and I went to a school where I was surrounded by … quite unpleasant men. So, my radar for people who I perceive as unpleasant is quite on. And I just want to be careful.
“I’m not saying that he’s abusive, but my radar is pretty good. So my reaction was on live TV when I came across him.
Young added that he thought Cowell needed to be “put in his place”.
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“Because I had to sit and watch him make people cry for weeks, building up to my live performance in front of him,” he continued. “And I just thought, ‘no one’s telling this man. Why is no one telling him?’ And so I was like, ‘I’m going to tell him.’”
“I think people in the music industry, entertainment industry… play on people’s desire. Your desire is going to make you do anything,” he added.
Young recalled that he had “already had my first bout of depression” by the time of the incident, which affected his handling of the situation.
“I’d lost someone close to me. I knew a bit of life. It wasn’t the be all and end all,” he said. “And so. I didn’t care about letting someone like him get away with it. Whereas I think lots of people in subsequent programs, I think there has been some awful behaviour actually, which is pretty well documented.”
At the time, Cowell watched Young’s performance and told him: “I’ve got a vision of Sunday lunch and after Sunday lunch you say in front of your family ‘I’m now going to sing a song for you’… Distinctly average, I’m afraid.”
Young told Cowell that he often “projected insults” onto contestants.
“All of us have been dying to say things to you – I’ve written about ten things to say to you,” the singer said. “I think it’s nice that you have given opinions on this show. I think in previous shows you haven’t, you’ve just projected insults and it has been terrible to watch. I think, this show, I think you have been better, and I think you have given opinions and you’ve backed up your opinions.”
“It is your opinion. I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it was average. I don’t think you could ever call that average. But it is your opinion and I respect that.”
Cowell backed down and replied: “You are a gentleman, sir.”
How to Fail with Elizabeth Day is available wherever you get your podcasts.
10 most expensive cars in the world
These limited-edition speed monsters are a perfect blend of style, speed, and luxury
17 May 2024

After achieving record sales in 2023, automotive brands have gone all out and revamped the top-of-the-line segment with stunning machines that offer ultimate performance. These high-end limited-edition supercars offer the best safety features, cutting-edge technology, and breathtaking interiors (with an additional option to customise), catering to ultra-rich billionaires and automotive aficionados. If you’re wondering about these supercars and their price, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ve curated a list of the 10 most expensive cars in the world, which includes top brands such as Pagani, Bugatti, and more.
Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail to Bugatti La Voiture Noire, here are the 10 most expensive cars in the world
10. Bugatti Divo (Rs 49.99 crore)

The Bugatti Divo pays tribute to French racer Albert Divo. The automotive company had produced only 40 units of the supercar, which were all pre-sold before the debut of the Chiron, a relatively affordable counterpart of the Divo. Divo is powered by a quad-turbo W16 engine, propelling it from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds. According to Forbes, the Bugatti Divo comes with a staggering price tag of Rs 49.99 crore, earning it the tenth spot on the list of the most expensive cars in the world.
9. Pagani Huayra Codalunga (Rs 61.63 crore)

You’ll be surprised to know that Pagani manufactured only five Huayra Codalunga, which were sold before its public announcement. Inspired by Le Mans race cars from the ’60s, this limited-edition long-tail hypercar is powered by a 6.0L twin-turbo V12 engine, capable of generating 840 bhp and 1,110 Nm. The hypercar is a testament to the brand’s innovative and advanced technology.
8. Mercedes Maybach Exelero (Rs 66.65 crore)

The Mercedes Maybach Exelero is one of the most expensive cars in the world, priced at Rs 66.65 crore. It is popular among car aficionados owing to its robust and large build quality. Notably, it outperforms many other concept cars in terms of speed, capable of reaching 351 km/h, thanks to its powerful twin-turbo V12 engine. The concept car was featured in Jay Z’s music video for Lost One and the popular German show Cobra 11.
7. Bugatti Centodieci (Rs 74.98 crore)

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Just months after launching the Chiron Profilée, Bugatti stunned the world by rolling out another state-of-the-art limited hypercar, named Centodieci, an upgraded version of Bugatti EB 110. Centodieci, which means 110 in Italian, celebrates the automotive company’s 110-year-old legacy. Bugatti produced just 10 units of this masterpiece, each costing around Rs 74.98 crore.
6. Rolls Royce Sweptail (Rs 108.31 crore)

Taking inspiration from the concept of coach-building in the ’20s and ’30s, Rolls-Royce launched its ‘Coachbuild’ program with Rolls Royce Sweptail. The grand two-seat hand-built coupe took nearly four years to complete. The minimalistic and powerful supercar secured the top spot on the list of most expensive cars in the world when it debuted at the Concorso d’Éleganza Villa d’Este event in 2017. According to Forbes, you need to splurge over Rs 108 crore to purchase the rare beast.
5. SP Automotive Chaos (Rs 119.98 crore)

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Powered by a twin-turbocharged V10 engine, this stunning supercar manufactured by Greek automotive designer Spyros Panopoulos can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.8 seconds. The company also claims that this high-performing supercar can reach a top speed of 499 km/h. One needs to shell out a staggering amount of Rs 119.98 crore to purchase this fifth most expensive car in the world.
4. Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta (Rs 146.64 crore)

Pagani, the Italian car manufacturing company, manufactured only three Barchettas, one of which was reserved for Horacio Pagani. This limited-edition hypercar is one of the rarest on the planet, boasting cutting-edge technology, top safety features, and stunning interiors. It held the title of the most expensive car in the world before the Rolls Royce Boat Tail arrived.
3. Bugatti La Voiture Noire (Rs 155.80 crore)

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The Bugatti La Voiture Noire, which translates to ‘the black car’ in French, is a perfect blend of style, speed, and luxury. It features a single-piece carbon fibre body and a quad-turbo 8-liter W16 engine, producing 1479 bhp and 1600 Nm of torque. It’s capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.4 seconds. Bugatti produced only one unit of this hypercar, which pays tribute to Jean Bugatti’s long-lost Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic.
2. Rolls Royce Boat Tail (Rs 233.28 crore)

The Rolls Royce Boat Tail is the successor to the Sweptail and is designed for the ultra-wealthy. Priced at Rs 233.28 crore, this luxurious vehicle is inspired by a yacht and comes equipped with features such as a champagne fridge, a built-in sun umbrella, and other extravagant amenities. It is powered by a turbocharged V12 engine that can propel the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds.
1. Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail (Rs 249.48 crore)

The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail, which translates to ‘the black rose’ in French, is the most expensive car in the world. This 5.3-meter-long and 2-metre-wide supercar is equipped with a twin-turbo 6.75-liter V-12 engine. The two-seater supercar, made of steel, aluminium, and carbon, exudes luxury from every angle. Rolls-Royce has produced only four Droptails to date.