The last time most of us saw Will Young, he was dripping wet and trying to perform synchronised swimming for Sport Relief. It wasn’t bad. Much better than Russell Kane’s attempt. He didn’t have long to practice and he’s not returned to the pool since – at least not for anything synchronised.

“It’s quite hard to find a team to practise with,” he explains in a posh and easygoing voice.

He’s possibly the most well-spoken popstar around.

“I only had three or six hours to practise.

“From my performance you would never have known...

“But it was great, I really enjoyed it.”

Chances are, he might get wet again when he comes up to Cumbria to appear at Carlisle Racecourse on July 2.

“Oh, I don’t mind,” he says, sounding slightly concerned.

“We’re brilliant in the rain us British, we just get on with it.”

The 37-year-old has done quite a few of these gigs, as well as appearing at major UK festivals – this summer’s Glastonbury will be his third.

“Racecourse gigs are quite cool. People go to see the races, which is always a great day out, to have a laugh.

“By the time they get listening to my show, they are all in a great mood and you get this audience that is already warmed-up.

“For me it is great, there is a particular energy about going to the races, it is the same kind of energy you get at a big sporting event.”

He grew up near the horse-racing capitals of Newbury and Lambourn, so there’s a natural bond there.

But he admits: “I’m not really a gambler, I only ever bet on the Grand National and I always do quite well.

“I got second place this year – £35 which was good.”

Since beating Gareth Gates to claim the Pop Idol crown in 2002, he has had a glittering pop career, including two Brit awards, appeared in films and on stage, earning a nomination for an Olivier for his role as Emcee in Cabaret.

He won fans as much for his attitude to sarcastic judge Simon Cowell as for his soaring and soulful voice.

Cowell called one of Young’s performances “average”.

The young singer disagreed with him and when the judge interrupted him, Young said: “Sorry, can I finish? Thank you.

“It’s nice that you’ve given opinions in this show,” said Young on TV.

“In previous shows you haven’t, you’ve just projected insults and it’s been terrible to watch… It is your opinion, but I don’t agree with it.

“I don’t think it was average. I don’t think you could ever call that average, but it is your opinion and I respect that, so thank you very much.”

The rest, as they say, is pop history.

His first single as Pop Idol was Evergreen which became the biggest selling track of the Noughties.

Who knows what happened to Cowell...

Young is the latest big-name act to appear at the racecourse, following on from sell-out shows by Jools Holland and Madness.

He promises a set that will include his four UK number 1 hits, as well as tracks from 85% Proof – sixth album which was released last May.

“I like to perform a ratio of 70 per cent old songs and 30 per cent new,” he explains.

“It is important that when you go to gigs, you want to hear the most popular and well-known songs, but also songs that might not be played on the radio, like ‘B’ sides.”

So you can expect the smash hit Jealousy, latest singles Love Revolution and Joy, and the Groove Armada collaboration History.

He promises a striking stage show, though perhaps not as risque as a recent appearance at G-A-Y which involved see-through plastic macs, paint twister mats, blue hair and a fair bit of nudity.

“Nooo, there’s no blue hair, maybe a bit of paint...” he teases.

“The show is going to look like I’ve raided my grandparents’ wardrobes.

“I’m loathe to give anything away, but there is an underlying theme, it gives the show a basis.

“It’s about showing how you can be childlike and free and do what you want – that wonderful liberation of being a child.

“Kids just charge around, doing what they want – it is that kind of energy with this show.”

If he’s got any energy left, he’ll go walking in the fells over the weekend he’s here.

His family have owned a holiday home in Dumfriesshire for 60 years and Young has holidayed there many times.

“It is lovely, I’m a walking type of person.

“I’m hoping to walk in the hills. I’m definitely going to bring my walking boots.”

Tickets starting at £25 adult /£15 child (under 18) are now on sale at www.thejockeyclublive.co.uk .