Will becomes certain Pop Idol

LONDON, England -- A 23-year-old politics graduate woke up a surefire pop superstar on Sunday after winning a TV talent contest which has enraptured Britain.

Will Young won the chance to be the UK's next manufactured chart sensation -- and a likely showbiz millionaire -- after winning the ITV1 show, "Pop Idols."

At one point on Saturday night telephone lines were jammed as the enthralled British public decided between Will, a 3-1 outsider, and Gareth Gates, the favourite.

Almost nine million votes were recorded. Will -- who started the competition as just one of 100,000 hopefuls -- clocked up 4.6 million votes (53.1 percent) compared to 4.1 million votes (46.9 pc) for Gareth, 17.

Will, whose former showbiz experience was playing Curly in a school production of Oklahoma, will now release a double A-side single through BMG records, on February 25.

It will be a double A-side featuring Westlife's Evergreen with Anything Is Possible by Cathy Dennis.

"I just cannot get my head round it to be honest," he said after his triumph.

"I am absolutely ecstatic. It's something I have always wanted to do and throughout this competition it's just felt more and more right to sing. I am really ready for it."

The Pop Idols phenomenon follows the success of the band Hear'Say who went straight to number one in the UK pop charts last year after winning the show Popstars.

Hear'Say's first single, Pure and Simple, became the UK's fastest selling debut single of all time, shifting 500,000 copies in the first week -- though their popularity has since waned with one band member walking out amid reported personality clashes.

Manufactured stardom: The original Hear'Say inspired Pop Idols

Pop Idol mania swept Britain since the start of the search with stores across the UK cashing in on the phenomenon.

A new Pop Idol Sindy doll is to be launched and Pop Idol confectionery has been selling like hot cakes.

Both Will and Gareth spent the final week in a dawn to dusk election-style campaign in a bid to convince the nation of their right to be crowned as the Pop Idol.

Stars including Robbie Williams, Victoria Beckham and Jenny Frost from Atomic Kitten had declared their support for Will, billed as "the new George Michael." He said if he failed to become a pop star he wanted to become a politician.

Ex-Cathedral chorister Gareth was being backed by Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys, Lord Lloyd Webber, Claire from Steps, Boy George and Status Quo's Francis Rossi. The pair became close friends during the competition and swapped rosettes, wishing each other luck.

For the final, each sang the double A-side singles Evergreen and Anything is Possible, and Gareth also sang the Righteous Brothers' Unchained Melody and Will crooned his way through The Doors' Light My Fire.

Celebrities watching the show live included Annie Lennox, Charlotte Church, Sean Hughes and Tony Robinson.

The final pair also received a whole array of good will messages from fellow musicians including SClub7, Liberty, Blue and Emma Bunton.

Both singers also received praise from the four judges, Pete Waterman, Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman and DJ Dr Neil Fox. Although the loser, pop insiders were predicting pop stardom also for Gareth, who has been signed by Cowell to produce a disc.

The 10 Pop Idol finalists are to come together again to perform two sell-out concerts at London's Wembley Arena on March 14 and 15.