I think everyones aware now that Will didnt want to be there, thats why the UK presenters made that joke about Will in the results show.
Ant, Dec and Will are all really goods friends. They became friends over the course of the six months that PI was filmed because they share the same sense of humour and developed a relationship which was more than just presenter/contestant particularly towards the end of PI when they had to travel to Ireland for a concert performance. They've met up on several shows since then and have been out drinking together for example at the Montreux Golden Rose Festival in France when the PI show won an award there, they're mates if not bussom buddies.
Most people in the UK view World Idol in the same way they do the Eurovision Song Contest ie not in a serious way at all but good for a laugh.
That's why they all fell about laughing when Dec asked Will if he'd enjoyed WI, everyone knows it's a daft show, how can you possibly decide who is a world idol on the basis of a two minute cover version and one performance. They were all laughing at themselves, taking the mikey out of themselves for being a part of it. It wasn't done in a nasty way, it was in a tongue in cheek "groan! oh hell what am I doing here" way.
Do you know when he said it? in what context? well if you don't it was on a day time light entertainment show called The Des and Mel show
this is the transcript of it
Des - Tell us about Christmas and this thing, this WI thing, I mean what's it all about?
Will- Well *pauses* I'm not really sure actually *bemused laughter*
*studio audience and Des laughs*
Des - Well what I know of it ......
Will - Yeah, I think it's eleven contestants from all over the world and I met them yesterday
Des - Oh you met them all *suprised tone*
Will - Yep, yep and we just had rehearsals this morning actually, so I was up very early *laughs slightly to and at himself, Will sleeps anywhere and because he leaves everything to the the last minute he's normally rushed or a little bit late when he's got to get somewhere*
Mel - hows it going to work with the judges, I mean whose it going to be and where are they from
Will - well they've got eleven judges as well
Des - are they all from like each country but not allowed to vote for their own country?
Will - Yeah, you're not allowed to vote for your own country and there's judges from I don't know, erm South Africa to Poland to England .....
Mel - and there's Germany and Holland places that aren't really known for their successful Pop songs so surely you're in with a good chance of winning
Will - *laughs* oh, I don't know *said in a half uncertain half horrified tone*
*fans in the audience cheer him on*
Des - first one, first WI wouldn't that be something (Des is a bit of an idiot sometimes but we like him anyway)
Will - I think it's a bit of a presumptious title though isn't it, World Idol, do you know what I mean? I thought Pop Idol was slightly presumptious *laughs at himself*
Des - But what else are they going to call it?
Will - I don't know *slight hesitation* Prat Idol I think *laughs*
*studio audience, Des and Mel all start laughing*
So in actual fact when Will's calling it Prat Idol he's really refering to himself and having a pot shot at himself at the idea that he could possibly win this title. Maybe you need to understand that Will has a very self-depricating sense of humour.
Will had voiced his objection to the CD BEFORE the show not after it. He didn't storm off anywhere after the show, he hugged and said goodbye to the other contestants and then went to spend what was left of New Year's day with his family and friends, the same as most of the world's population did, those that were able to do so, geography permitting.
Will's already fought predjudice in the media, he did it in this country for nearly the first two years after winning PI but he kept his head down, worked hard and let the music do the talking for him. He has never slagged another artist off in the press either to further his own career or in retaliation against unfair and untrue statements.
Will's PR team won't need to fix anything. Will has always spoken for himself and stood up for himself, he's more than capable of that. He has a reputation in this country with people within the industry of being a real Gent, an all around decent bloke, a nice guy, that's no coincidence.
As soon as Will starts to promote his records in other countries people will see for themselves what kind of personality he has and why his fans love him for the great guy he is.
