WILL YOUNG - YOUNG THANKS HOSKINS FOR STAGE CAREER

British pop singer WILL YOUNG has actor BOB HOSKINS to thank for his new stage career, because it was the portly UNLEASHED star who told him to try his hand at theatre. Young, 27, first met Hoskins when they appeared together in the hit British movie MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, and the former POP IDOL winner made his stage debut in NOEL COWARD's THE VORTEX in Manchester last night (19JAN06) after encouragement from the veteran English actor. He says, "Bob told me to try it."