I have to admit it. I'm not a Will Young fan.

I used my media privileges to give an eager friend of mine a chance to see some of his favourite eye-candy in the flesh, knowing nothing of Will's repertoire except that one from Pop Idol.

And as we walked into the Brighton Centre, we certainly felt out of place. Expecting gay couples and teenyboppers, we found ourselves surrounded by mums, grandmas and families in a working-men's club atmosphere.

Our first encounter with a fan proved illuminating. A pensioner with a homemade Will badge pinned on her cardie, she'd come on a bus with 16 others from the Isle of Wight. "Is he big over there then?" I asked, making innocent conversation. Swiftly she replied: "He's big everywhere, love. Didn't you see the pictures in Heat magazine?" Umm, no, guess I missed those.

However, I wished I had seen them when Will stepped out from behind his red velvet curtain and shimmied down his giant staircase. The boy is certainly pleasing on the eye and the excited audience, who had clearly followed Will every step of the way from Saturday night television to a big night out in Brighton, voiced their appreciation loudly.

Will strutted his stuff in a big opening number to a constant chorus of "We love you!" and "You're gorgeous, Will!" and I began to get into the swing of things.

Will was not what I expected. He has ditched the boy-next-door image and crooning puppy-dog pop for a highly camp and flamboyant style, backed by big bands and big rhythms in an Eighties Vogue-esque setting.

He performed stylish routines with a troupe of dancers against impressive video projections - it was a slick show.

A fair few of the traditional ballads were thrown in for good measure but they were cut up and recrafted to make them more flavoursome versions of their former selves.

Whatever you think of the music, you cannot fault this boy's voice - it is superb and surprisingly soulful. Will enjoys playing with his range and hits every note dead on.

Will was in his element and was clearly having huge fun on stage. If you like easy-listening jazz and big-band, go and see him.

I can honestly tell you the Pop Idol days are long gone and Will is all the better for it.

If this show was anything to go by, he will be around for a long long time to come.