Row keeps Will off TOTP
Pop Idol winner Will Young is at the centre of a row which means that he will become the first No 1 artist in the 38-year history of Top Of The Pops not to appear on the programme.
A bust-up between the BBC1 show bosses and his record label BMG about how long he should appear for on screen has led to the 23-year-old singer being barred from appearing in the studio.
A spokeswoman for the show said: "It would have meant a quarter of the show being devoted to one artist and that wouldn't be fair on the other artists.
"It's the first time since the show began that the No 1 artist has been available to do Top Of the Pops but has been prevented from doing so."
The singer's representatives had insisted that Will should sing both tracks from his double A-sided single, Anything Is Possible/ Evergreen, on the chart show.
However, TOTP chiefs were unhappy at Will's label trying to dictate editorial policy by saying how many songs he must perform. They will now have to use a video of the singer instead of a live performance.
Michael Kelpie, TOTP producer, said: "It's a very sad day for pop music but the door is still open for Will. We would love to have him on the show as long as the record company drop their unreasonable demands."
Last night Will, a politics graduate, learnt that he had shattered Hear'Say's record for the fastest-selling debut single in history by selling more than one million records in a week.
The winner of ITV's hit Pop Idol show said: "I can't express how happy I am. All I can say is the biggest thank you to everyone who voted for me and to everyone who has bought the single. Thank you so much. I thought it couldn't get any better and it just did."
Asked on BBC Radio1 what kind of celebrations he had planned he said: "It'll probably just be one party cracker and a herbal tea."
Will's single sold 1,108,269 since last Monday to propel it to the top spot, a total only beaten by Elton John's tribute to Princess Diana, Candle in the Wind.
Will was the final contestant accepted on to the TV talent show and received 4.6 million votes in the final, beating Gareth Gates.
He is now set to work with Cathy Dennis, who was responsible for Kylie Minogue's hit Can't Get You out of My head and lounge legend Burt Bacharach on tracks for his new album.
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