![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Will-Young.jpg\")
A fresh-faced Young and Gates on Pop Idol in 2002<\/p>\nThe two theatres are calling it #PantoIdol and have been having lots of fun on social media<\/p>\n
16:38, 15 Apr 2025Updated 16:38, 15 Apr 2025<\/p>\n
A fresh-faced Young and Gates on Pop Idol in 2002<\/p>\n
It may seem like a lifetime ago, but it seems history is repeating itself as the two finalists in the very first season of Pop Idol appear to be battling it out once more.<\/p>\n
This time in the world of Panto.<\/p>\n
Will Young and Gareth Gates made it to the final of the very first series of the ITV<\/a> singing competition back in 2001-2, with Will being announced by Ant & Dec<\/a> to be the winner, with 53.1 per cent of the public vote (which was done by phone-in back in the day).<\/p>\n Now, more than two decades later, the pair have been signed up to star in two very different West Country<\/a> pantomimes this Christmas.<\/p>\n Will was announced back in March to be starring in the Bristol Hippodrome<\/a> and Crossroads Pantomimes’ (the world’s biggest panto producer) 2025 production of Jack and the Beanstalk, playing at the iconic Bristol theatre<\/a> from Saturday, December 6, 2025, to January 4, 2026.<\/p>\n Then, on Monday (April 14) The Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mare<\/a> shared a humorous Instagram post announcing the star of their adaptation of Cinderella (running from Saturday, December 6, to Wednesday, December 31) – the Pop Idol runner up himself, and Will Young’s ‘rival’, Gareth Gates.<\/p>\n The Instagram post read: “Hey Bristol, we see you, but Weston will always be Team Gareth. #PantoIdol.”<\/p>\n To which Bristol Hippodrome’s official Instagram account responded: “Nah, we think you’d better leave right now because it\u2019s Team Will all the way. #TeamWill<\/a> #PantoIdol<\/a>“<\/p>\n The back and forth between the two theatres then continued as replies in the comments, throwing in as many Will and Gareth song references as possible.<\/p>\n The Playhouse wrote: “Ah Bristol, that\u2019s the Spirit In The Sky but once you come and see #TeamGareth<\/a> in action it\u2019ll feel like a Long And Winding Road home.”<\/p>\n The Hippodrome replied: “You know that it would be untrue, You know that I would be a liar, If I was to say to you, That #TeamWill<\/a> doesn\u2019t light our fire.”<\/p>\n The Playhouse then said: “You\u2019re caught in a trap, you can\u2019t walk out, because #TeamGareth<\/a> runs this town, baby. We can\u2019t go on together, with suspicious minds\u2026 but we can build our dreams, on rival Pantomimes.”<\/p>\n While the Hippodrome wrote: “And it feels like jealousy…”<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Gareth Gates simply said: “Can’t wait.”<\/p>\n Which Panto will you be heading to this Christmas?<\/strong><\/p>\n Join Bristol Live\u2019s WhatsApp community for What’s On news sent directly to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we\u2019ll share the top stories about Bristol events, restaurants, family attractions, nightlife and much more straight to your phone, so you can stay updated with things to do and places to go.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link <\/a>and select \u2018Join Community\u2019. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744720930_438_consent-placeholder.svg.svg+xml\")
Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744476931_129_0_WhatsApp-Phone.jpg\")
Bristol Live What’s On WhatsApp<\/p>\n