Thousands of fans greeted the pair as they performed a string of hits on the first date of their nationwide tour at London's Wembley Arena.

After performances from the other eight finalists from the TV series, including Aaron Bayley, Korben and Jessica Garlick, Gareth came on stage to perform his single, Unchained Melody.

The 17-year-old followed that up by taking to the piano for a slushy duet with Zoe Birkett.

There were rumours of romance between them after Gareth broke down in tears when Zoe was voted off the show, but the pair insist they are just good friends.

That performance was followed by the main event when Will came on stage to an ecstatic welcome from the 11,000 strong crowd.

He opened with Doors classic Light My Fire, then a rendition of his number one hit, Evergreen.

Will, 23, admitted last week that he was gay but judging by the screams from the predominantly female audience the disclosure has done nothing to dent his popularity.

His single, a double A side with Anything Is Possible, looks set to hold on to the number one spot for a third week and has shifted more than 1.5 million copies so far.

The crowd at the sellout show ranged from the very young to the middle aged and the banner-waving fans looked evenly split between Gareth and Will.

The Geordie train driver got the boot from the final 10 in the TV talent hunt.

But he is now hoping for pop success after the R 'n' B trio let him record a song they had written.

Bayley was impressed after hearing the band's forthcoming single Been There Done That on the radio prior to its release on March 4.

So he tracked down the south London act to see if they would work with him.

Smoke 2 Seven's Vikki O'Neill, 17, said: "As soon as Aaron called us, we knew that track would be perfect for his voice."

He is also negotiating a contract with Dr Fox's agent.

The train driver was voted off of the ITV show last Saturday.

"The producer is very interested in working with me which is great," Aaron said.

"He's produced eleven number one singles and has worked with Pete Waterman and Simon Cowell, which is pretty impressive. Dr Fox's agent also rang and wants to take me on."

Aaron adds that he's missing the other contestants now that he's back home in Newcastle.

"I spent three weeks living with these people so I got to know them really well," he says. "I got on best with Gareth and Hayley so I'll miss them the most. To be honest, I'm just happy I got as far as I did."

The remaining seven contestants will sing movie themes in tonight's show on ITV at 6.20pm.

Aaron Bayley adds he was "gutted" when he was voted off the show last night.

He says he will be back driving a train if rail chiefs insist on him working tomorrow's late shift.

The 26-year-old says he was given eight weeks' leave to compete for the title of Pop Idol but added: "They might ring me up and ask if I want to work, but I have an answer for them.

"Ideally, in my mind, I will never be driving a train again. It's not because I hate the job it's just because this is what I want to do."

Aaron, from Newcastle upon Tyne, added: "Last night I was numb. I can't say anything more than that. I was expecting to be on the couch but I wasn't expecting to go out."

The Geordie, who works for Arriva Trains and earns just over £20,000-a-year, was the third contestant to leave the competition final, which includes 10 of the very best selected from weeks of auditions.

Putting forward William Young as "the dark horse", he said it was too close to call who would finally overcome the competition: "It changes every week. There are so many talented people in the group that it's too difficult to say."

Aaron, who hopes to pursue a solo career, did not discount the possibility that he may star in a future 'Flop Idol' pop band put together by all of those who failed to make the grade: "It will be somewhere on the list but it won't be a priority."

The remaining seven contestants to do battle for the coveted title will be singing movie themes in next week's show.

Aaron Bayley looked disappointed when he was told by hosts Ant and Dec that he had attracted the least telephone votes from the ITV audience.

His performance of 24 Hours from Tulsa received praise from one of the judges but was not strong enough to secure him a place in the next round.

Judge Neil Fox told him: "There was a great reaction from the audience."

But he added: "I don't think you'll be driving a train when Pop Idol is over, but this week you were close to hitting the buffers."

All eight contestants performed a chosen Burt Bacharach song in the hope of securing a place in next week's round.

The two other Pop Idols who joined Aaron, 26, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on the "couch of doom" were Laura Doherty from Derry in Northern Ireland, and Rosie Ribbons from Swansea.

Aaron joined Jessica and Chris Niblett as the third contestant to leave the competition final.

The remaining seven contestants to do battle for the coveted title will be singing movie themes in next week's show.