The winner of the first ever series of the show told DJ Neil Fox on his Hit 40 UK radio show, he sometimes watches them when he's drunk.

He said: "I have been known to pick up one of my old Pop Idol flags and when they announce the winner I wave it and then I pass out drunk on the sofa."

Former plumber Nilsen, 25, was named World Idol following a special edition of the talent contest featuring the winners of all the overseas shows.

Britain's Pop Idol Will Young finished fifth in the competition, hosted by Ant and Dec.

Kurt won maximum points from nine of the 11 countries which voted in the contest for his rendition of the U2 track Beautiful Day.

After being announced as the winner, a clearly thriller and tearful Kurt said: "This is totally amazing," and to the other 10 Pop Idols he said: "I love you guys."

The US's Pop Idol, Kelly Clarkson, finished second in the competition, while Belgian rocker Peter Evrard - who sang a cover of the Nirvana song Lithium - was third.

Their performances were broadcast in a special show on ITV1 on Christmas Day, with the winners announced in an hour-long results programme tonight.

Following Kurt's performance, judge Simon Cowell said: "You have an astonishingly good voice and I think you could be the dark horse to win this competition."

Kurt won the Norwegian version of Pop Idol in May last year. His single She's So High went straight to number one in the Norwegian singles chart and is the country's biggest selling single to date.

Will sang his version of Light My Fire for the show, which brings together Pop Idol winners from around the globe.

Elias Rhabani, judge for the Arabic region, said: "Maybe you'll become one of the most famous people in the world if you practise. Maybe you should have singing lessons."

His single Leave Right Now held onto top spot for a second week, while his album, Friday's Child, went straight in at number one.

Black Eyed Peas entered the singles chart at number two with Shut Up, while EastEnder Shane Ritchie slipped to number three with his cover version of I'm Your Man.

Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates was in at number four with his new single Say It Isn't So while Westlife's Mandy dropped two places to number five. Jump from Girls Aloud dropped from four to six.

Stores had underestimated how popular the Pop Idol winner continues to be as the star sold 40,000 copies of his new song in a day.

Now shops have restocked to get Leave Right Now back on track to take the number one slot on Sunday.

Many stores assumed Young's career had hit a downturn like Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, whose last single Sunshine peaked at number three.

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "This is the strongest week-one demand for a single that we have experienced all year, and a small number of stores were taken a little by surprise and ran out of stock quicker than expected.

"However, they now have copies of the single back on the shelves to cater to the demand from fans."

Music retailers are cautious about overbuying singles because of a slump in sales. The number of singles sold over the 12 months to September this year were down by more than 30% on the previous year's figures.

The contest - World Idol - will be screened in a number of countries on Christmas Day, but scheduling details have not been announced in the UK.

There had been speculation about a winner's version of the show, but programme makers FremantleMedia and 19TV had been silent about it until now.

The two part-special is being staged in London and broadcast around the world featuring 11 contestants, including American Idol Kelly Clarkson.

The first part of the special to find the world's singing superstar will be transmitted in "late December".

Then viewers in each country will choose the winner through a phone vote with the results show broadcast over New Year.

The Idol format has been sold to more than 20 countries and has swelled the bank balances of its creators.

Judges and presenters from each of the countries will be involved in the show, but programme bosses are not saying who they are at this stage.

Show creator Simon Fuller said: "When I dreamt up the idea of Pop Idol, I always saw it is a global concept, and so I'm delighted to see World Idol being made here in London. The last two years have been fantastic and it is incredibly satisfying to see a British TV idea being so successful on a global stage."

The other countries and regions taking part are South Africa, Poland, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, the Middle East, Belgium, Canada and Australia.

Gates won favourite TV music performance and favourite male singer, while Young won favourite album with From Now On at the awards, which are decided by only public telephone votes.

The Pop Idol winner co-wrote the single with Eg White and the track has been produced by Steve Lipson who has worked with Sting, Annie Lennox and Whitney Houston.

The track is the only confirmed song on Friday's Child, the follow-up to his debut album From Now On which went straight to No. 1 in the UK when it was released last October.

Will Young headlined the event, Music and Laughter for Milly, which will raise money for a charity set up in memory of the teenager.

The show at the London Palladium, hosted by Brian Conley, also featured performances by Pop Idol finalists Jessica Garlick and Hayley Evetts and Alistair McGowan.

A spokeswoman for the theatre said just under 2,000 tickets had been sold for the one-night event.

All the money raised will be donated to Milly's Fund, which helps to increase awareness of personal safety among children and young adults.

Milly, 13, disappeared as she was walking home from a railway station in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March last year.

Her remains were discovered 20 miles away in Yateley Heath Woods, Hampshire, six months later.

Her killer is still at large despite a huge police hunt.

Young, who beat Gareth Gates to win the ITV competition last year, filled out an application form for the new series.

Tracks include Young's version of the Police's Roxanne, his cover of the Doors' Light My Fire, Ticket to Love, Cruel to be Kind and Over You.

Fans will be charged £3 for the download and all profits will be donated to Will's chosen charity Positive Action SouthWest.

The track by the Pop Idol stars was named the third worst in a poll for digital TV channel Music Choice.

Star Trek star William Shatner's spoken word version of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds was thought the worst ever rendition of a Beatles song.

Shatner finished just ahead of Pinky & Perky who did a version of All My Loving.

Former Formula One driver Damon Hill, who was a pal of late Beatle George Harrison, finished in fourth position for his version of Drive My Car.

Jim Carrey made the list for his version of I Am The Walrus, which he recorded for a tribute album for Beatles producer Sir George Martin.

Simon Bell of Music Choice said: "There can be few greater challenges even for the finest musicians than attempting to cover a track by The Beatles.

"After all, how can you hope to improve on the work of the world's greatest ever group?

"While chart acts like PM Dawn, Suggs and Candy Flip might feel entitled to have a stab at greatness, the likes of Damon Hill, Jim Carrey and William Shatner are best advised to stick to the day job."

The full top ten includes:
1. William Shatner - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds;
2. Pinky & Perky - All My Loving;
3. Will Young & Gareth Gates - The Long and Winding Road;
4. Damon Hill - Drive My Car;
5. Bananarama with French & Saunders - Help!;
6. Jim Carrey - I Am the Walrus;
7. Wet Wet Wet - With A Little Help From My Friends;
8. Suggs - I'm Only Sleeping;
9. PM Dawn - Norwegian Wood;
10. Candy Flip - Strawberry Fields Forever.

He is a patron for Postive Action South West, which aims to help people affected by HIV and create awareness.

The singer will perform with his acoustic band at the event at Killerton Parklands on July 18.

Will says he's looking forward to returning to Exeter to relive his "mad" University days.

He releases his live DVD on Monday, recorded at London's Wembley Arena - one of the dates on 2002's 20-night tour, which played to over 250,000 fans.

Tickets for the Exeter Festival, priced £25, go on sale on May 13.

He has also been told to have his teeth straightened and whitened before he takes on America.

The singer says he may now turn down the lucrative deal.

He will lend an ear to callers later this month as a guest presenter for the station's Sunday Surgery advice show.

The singer will join regular hosts Emma B and Dr Mark Hamilton for the show on February 23.

The programme ties in with the BBC-wide Hitting Home season looking at issues surrounding domestic violence.

Young, who has taken the charts by storm in the past year with hits such as Evergreen and Light My Fire - did his university thesis on domestic violence.

A spokesman for Radio 1 said: "Will feels passionately about this important issue and is keen to lend a hand to help raise awareness."

"Emma, Mark and Will are taking calls and giving advice to anyone who has been a victim of violence or is worried about a friend who is in this situation."

The Hitting Home season runs from February 15 to 23.

Will beat the likes of Ant and Dec, Graham Norton and Cat Deeley in a nationwide poll to find Britain's best-loved TV star.

The accolade was voted by readers of TV Choice, TV Quick, TV Times and What's On TV.

Viewers will see him receive the award on Saturday night during ITV1's Television of the Year Party.

More than 400 stars of the small screen attended the glittering bash at London's Royal Opera House.

Presented by Gabby Logan and Gaby Roslin, the show will relive the year's top TV moments, from reality TV to the world of soaps.

Cameras will also mingle with the stars at the party so viewers can get all the gossip.

Young has had a remarkable year since winning Pop Idol in February.

His debut single, Evergreen/Anything Is Possible became the fastest selling single of all time, shifting over a million copies in its first week.

His album, From Now On, also went straight in at number one.

The celebrity pairing edition of the show will be broadcast on ITV1 at Christmas.

Des Lynam teamed up with newsreader Mary Nightingale. Will Young and Emma Bunton were another pairing.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Des and Mary were the biggest winners on the show, although it hasn't been revealed how much they won for charity.

A shortlist of ten songs has been drawn up for the award, presented by Ant and Dec on ITV this Saturday.

The ten finalists also include Darius, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Liberty X, Elvis V Junkie XL, Atomic Kitten and Ronan Keating.

Viewers will be able to cast their votes on the night.

Last year's winners were S Club 7 with their hit Don't Stop Movin'.

Will was a double winner - taking the best newcomer and best single at the ceremony, held at the Manchester Evening News Arena.

Oasis were given the best rock act prize, Ms Dynamite was named top R'n'B act and best pop act went to Blue.

Coldplay landed the best album prize for their second release A Rush Of Blood To The Head, while Kylie - who performed at the event - took best tour for her Fever dates.

The Top Of The Pops awards, now in their second year, were voted for entirely by the public and presented in front of a 10,000 strong crowd.

Chart veteran Sir Elton John was honoured for his lifetime's work by being inducted into the Top Of The Pops Hall Of Fame.

His double A-side Don't Let Me Down/You And I entered the chart at number two.

The song was released to raise money for the BBC's Children In Need appeal.

Last week's top song, Christina Aguilera's Dirrty, remained at number one for a second week.

It's the first time Will has failed to reach the top spot.

In the album chart, Robbie Williams' Escapology went straight in at number one, knocking Westlife's greatest hits compilation down to number two.

His double A-side Don't Let Me Down/You And I is just ahead of Dirrty according to figures from Virgin Megastores.

Nelly and Kelly Rowland look set to drop to number three with Dilemma while Las Ketchup are expected to climb from five to four with The Ketchup Song.

S Club's latest Alive should enter the chart at number five.

The BBC1 epic, hosted by Terry Wogan and Gabby Roslin, is hoping to beat last year's record-breaking £25 million total raised for children's charities.

TV presenters, pop singers and soap stars were among those taking part in the show in special sketches and musical performances.

Former Neighbours actress Holly Valance performed her No 1 hit Kiss Kiss and Coronation Street star Suranne Jones (who plays Karen McDonald) sang her version of Blame It On The Boogie.

There were also outside broadcasts from around the country with a variety of stars explaining what was happening to raise money across the UK.

He will sing both You And I and Don't Let Me Down as well as Walking In A Winter Wonderland before turning on the lights.

Fans will be able to see Will for free at the event which is staged at the junction of New Burlington Street and Regent Street at 6.15pm.

Ms Dynamite is up for top newcomer, top album and top R'n'B artist, while Will is nominated for top newcomer, top single and top pop.

Coldplay are nominated for top rock, top tour and top album.

Gareth Gates is up against Will in two categories - top newcomer along with The Streets, Holly Valance, and Ms Dynamite, and top pop, against Atomic Kitten, Blue and Sugababes.

Ronan Keating will host the ceremony at the Manchester Evening News Arena on November 29, with performances from Kylie, Ms Dynamite, Will Young, Gareth Gates, Craig David, Blue and Moby.

It will be shown on BBC1 on Saturday November 30.

The awards were voted for by the public.

But Gareth did pick up an award for Favourite TV Music Performance.

The annual TV event, hosted by Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin, takes place on Friday November 15.

Highlights include the cast of EastEnders performing Michael Jackson's Thriller and Claire Sweeney as Lady Marmalade.

The News and Weather teams will perform The Rocky Horror Show, while artists including Darren Day, Eamonn Holmes and Nadia Wadia pay tribute to Elvis Presley.

Pop Idol winner Will Young is recording this year's charity single, the double A-side You And I/Don't Let Me Down, and will also open the show with a live rendition in the studio.

There will also be BBC Children In Need concerts around the country, with acts and venues to be announced.

Last year, BBC Children In Need raised £25m and the charity hopes to raise even more this year.

Throughout the night, there will be regular updates from around the country and appeal films, enabling viewers to see how the money is being spent and why it is important to raise even more this year.

They will be joined by Anastacia, Enrique Iglesias, Shania Twain and Shirley Bassey.

Bob Monkhouse, Lee Mack and Omid Djalili will provide the comedy.

The show will also feature performances by the cast of Bombay Dreams and Our House, the new musical based on Madness songs.

The show takes place on December 2 at the Hammersmith Apollo in the presence of Prince Charles.

The song by the Spanish group Las Ketchup has been outselling The Long and Winding Road by three to one.

The cover of The Long and Winding Road by the Pop Idol duo had been number one in the singles chart for two weeks but slipped to number three.

The two singers met the Prince backstage at the Wembley Arena venue, before he settled down to enjoy the performance, staged in aid of the Prince's Trust.

The duo added the extra date, at the north London venue, to their UK tour to raise money for the charity.

It was expected to raise more than £250,000 for the Trust, for which Will and Gareth are both celebrity ambassadors.

Gareth's ripped jeans and studded belt with his name emblazoned on it drew a comment from the Prince, who said: "I must remember to get my trousers distressed."

Asked by the Prince how he was enjoying chart success, Gareth enthused about his duo with Will, The Long and Winding Road, being at number one in the singles charts.

Gareth was then whisked off to be secured into a harness ready to be "flown" on to stage for the second half.

Will, who has performed in front of the Prince at Buckingham Palace this summer, as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, also said how good if felt to be at number one in the album charts with his debut release.

The pair, who are due to perform at venues from London to Glasgow as part of their tour, sang their number one hit plus material from both their long-awaited albums.

Pop Idol runner-up Zoe Birkett, 17, also sang, in support, at the concert.

Will and Gareth were originally scheduled to meet the Prince in April but that meeting was cancelled when the Queen Mother died.

The Ketchup Song by Las Ketchup is outselling the Pop Idols by two to one.

But there is good news for Will, whose debut album From Now On is set to go straight to the top of the album chart.

The Foo Fighters and S Club Juniors are also expected to be new entries in the singles chart, at numbers three and four respectively.

Avril Lavigne's Complicated is expected to drop to number five according to the latest figures from Virgin Megastores.

According to midweek sales figures The Long And Winding Road will hold on to the top spot for a second week.

Holly Valance is expected to enter the chart at number two.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Megastores told Ananova: "Will and Gareth are way ahead of Holly".

Avril Lavigne should stay at number three with Complicated.

The pair sang together on the final of the US show last month.

But record boss Simon Cowell says they need to choose an amazing track for it to be a hit.

Cowell told Heat magazine: "I think it will happen, it makes sense. It would have to be something as good as the George Michael and Aretha Franklin duet I Knew You Were Waiting For Me.

"It has to be amazing, otherwise don't do it."

He adds that him and Will are still "not the best of friends", after he publicly favoured Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates.

He adds: "We're not enemies. We respect each other, but he has a much closer relationship with Simon Fuller. I'm like a child, I want my own way. I'm always saying things I regret."

The pair entered the singles chart at number one with The Long and Winding Road/Suspicious.

Oasis are at number two with Little By Little/She Is Love while Avril Lavigne is at three with Complicated.

Elvis Presley reinforced his seemingly infinite appeal, years after his death, by nailing the top spot in the album chart.

His compilation, ELV1S - 30 Number 1 Hits, follows up the single, A Little Less Conversation, which gave him the record for British number one singles.

Elsewhere in the album list, Bon Jovi entered the chart at number two with Bounce, while singer Pink is at three with Missundaztood.

Both albums by Coldplay remain in the top 20, while Peter Gabriel's long awaited new offering, Up, entered the chart at number 11.

They've got the fastest selling single in the country at the moment according to the latest sales figures from Virgin.

If The Long And Winding Road does enter the chart at in the top spot it'll be both singers third number one.

Oasis are currently in second place with Little By Little with Avril Lavigne is expected to make her UK chart debut at number three.

The current number one, Pink's Just Like A Pill, is in fourth place followed by Atomic Kitten's version of The Tide Is High at five.

The second annual award ceremony will take place at the Manchester Evening News Arena on November 29.

Organisers say nine other acts will perform at the event as well as two special collaborations that will be kept a closely guarded secret until the night.

Pop fans will be able to vote for their favourite acts during November, and the awards will be shown on the BBC shortly after they take place. The nominations have not yet been announced.

Will says he's really looking forward to the awards:

"To be asked to perform at the Top Of The Pops Awards is fantastic," he said.

"The show is a bit like a national treasure - it should be good fun!"

Gareth added: "I can't wait to get out there and see all the fans. There's nothing better than seeing everyone shouting my name and getting a buzz out of my music, it's great."

Will is set to perform Summertime, from Gershwin's Porgy And Bess, and Gareth will sing Beat Out That Rhythm On A Drum.

The concert takes place in London's Hyde Park on September 15, with a programme of popular classical tunes which will be familiar to youngsters.

Proms director Nicholas Kenyon said Will and Gareth help youngsters identify with the music and introduce a new generation to the concerts.

"We have to recognise there is no longer a dividing line between the classical and pop worlds. They're not in completely separate camps - there's an overlap," he said.

"We have to respond to what the audience listens to, and the audience's tastes are wider and more volatile than ever. They are just as happy with the Buena Vista Social Club as they are with the classical masterpieces."

But he added: "The Proms will always be a festival based on the great classical repertory."

He said this year the programme includes "world music, musicals and Flamenco, and they can coexist with Mahler, Bruckner and Boulez - that's what's happening on Radio 3."

In the past the Tweenies and Steps have made appearances at the CBBC event, which is held the day after the Last Night of the Proms.

Will has been asked to appear on the final episode of American Idol.

The show will feature the US version's eventual winner.

He said he felt "uncomfortable" performing on the track Suspicious Minds.

The pair release their first joint single, The Beatles' The Long And Winding Road, on September 23.

The single is a double A-side which also features the Elvis Presley classic Suspicious Minds, sung by Gareth.

Will said: "Although I was invited to join Gareth to duet on Suspicious Minds, I was uncomfortable with the track and suggested he did it solo as it suits his voice well.

"It sounds fantastic and I hope both tracks go down equally well."

However he does perform a song on his own, Jackie Wilson's I Get The Sweetest Feeling, as a bonus track on the single.

Following the forthcoming release the two stars say they will "move on" to follow divergent career paths.

Will said: "After this, both Gareth and I will move on and take the different musical routes we both wish to follow."

They are both signed to his record label BMG.

The charity event is to be held at London's Wembley Arena on October 10.

Joining them at the gig will be another Pop Idol contestant Zoe Birkett.

Will's manager Simon Fuller, who came up with the idea for Pop Idol, says he's planning to launch World Idol.

He hopes the show will have enable viewers from around the world to vote for their favourite.

The Pop Idol winner's as-yet-unnamed album will hit the shops on September 30.

Security guards didn't recognise them and tried to prevent them getting through.

He made the revelation after performing at the Capital FM Party In The Park in London.

But Will says he probably won't appear in the movie.

He told Mel B on Channel 5: "It's a very English film about domestic violence. I'm working on it with a friend.

"I don't know if I'd be good enough to act in it."

Will had earlier performed his hits Evergreen and Light My Fire to 100,000 fans in Hyde Park.

The event, also featuring Bryan Adams, Gareth Gates, Atomic Kitten, Shaggy, Shakira, Mis-Teeq and Liberty X, is in aid of the Prince's Trust.

They will team up for a version of The Beatles' Long And Winding Road.

But they're both so busy they've got to film each of their parts of the video separately and it will be edited together.

It will be hosted by Gary Lineker, Ulrika Jonsson and Jamie Theakston on Saturday July 13.

There will also be music from Alessandro Safina and appearances from an array of sporting personalities.

Safina's re-recording of the Elton John classic Your Song is the official Sport Relief single.

The night of Sport Relief will raise money for vulnerable children and young people in the UK and across the world.

JXL's version of A Little Less Conversation should beat Kylie Minogue's Love At First Sight into second place and Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Get Over You to number three.

Wyclef Jean, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Beverley Knight and Liberty X have also joined the line-up.

Enrique Iglesias, Blue and Sophie Ellis-Bextor had previously been announced for the show on July 7.

The 100,000-capacity event in Hyde Park is already sold out.

It will raise money for the Prince's Trust and will be broadcast by Capital and by Channel 5.

The Prom At The Palace and Party At The Palace will be available in the first week of July.

BBC Worldwide will donate proceeds from the Jubilee concert DVDs to The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Trust.

The Party At The Palace will be broadcast in the US on VH1 at 9pm on June 9.

Featured artists included chart stars such as Atomic Kitten, Blue, The Corrs, Mis-Teeq, Ricky Martin, S Club 7, and Will Young.

Rock and pop veterans such as Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Queen and Rod Stewart also appeared.

It beat Ant and Dec's World Cup song, We're on the Ball, into third slot.

Will took the number one spot with his cover version of The Doors' song Light My Fire, pushing Without Me by Eminem, into second place.

Other football songs which entered the charts as England began their World Cup campaign included DJ Otzi's Hey Baby which went in at number 10.

Goldenballs (Mr Beckham to You) by Bell and Spurling, and Go England by the England Boys went in at numbers 25 and 26 respectively.

His cover version of The Doors' Light My Fire only debuted at number five this week.

Eminem's Without Me held the top spot for a second week.

Will's first single, Evergreen, is the fastest selling UK single of all time.

He is hot favourite to debut at the top of the UK singles chart on Sunday.