WILL Young has revealed all about the debilitating impact of his post-traumatic stress disorder ahead of an appearance in Brighton.

The Pop Idol winner, who stars alongside Louise Redknapp in the musical Cabaret in December, said that at the peak of his illness he could barely get out of his car.

Young added that the disorder was the reason for his shock exit from Strictly Come Dancing last year – just four weeks into the BBC programme.

Speaking exclusively to The Argus, he said: “Without a doubt I wasn’t well enough to do Strictly.

“I have PTSD which is a physical illness. My embodiment of that is that I have a very faulty nervous system.

“It was awful, absolutely hideous. I couldn’t even get out of the car.”

In an interview with The Telegraph earlier this year, Young said he believed his disorder started when he was separated as a newborn from his twin brother, Rupert, who was ill with pneumonia and put in an incubator.

He added that the PTSD returned during his time at a “vicious” prep school and then again on Strictly.

Young told The Argus: “A friend of mine who was working in the Strictly crew said ‘we need to see more of you on camera’, because he was worried not enough people would vote for me.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to be on camera’. That’s when I realised I should leave. So I left.”

The pop singer, who hit number one in the UK album charts with his latest record 85% Proof, dismissed the idea that a biting comment from Strictly judge Len Goodman was part of his decision to leave the show. Goodman told Young to “keep up, put up and shut up”.

Young said: “People thought I left because of something a judge said but I’ve heard worse from my four year-old nephew. That didn’t matter.” He added that he put too much pressure on himself during his battle with PTSD because he was worried people would “forget about” him.

l Will Young appears in Cabaret at Theatre Royal Brighton from December 5 to 9. For more information and tickets visit atgtickets.com.