Everyone has an opinion of The X Factor, but more than most, original Pop Idol winner Will Young has a vested interest in how well each act performs.

Indeed, very early in Saturday’s proceedings, he held an impromptu straw poll as to which contestant the Yorkshire crowd preferred.

As expected, Young proved very comfortable on stage and a great communicator, chatting with the audience on many subjects. Even when a gentleman at the back asked Young if he could “have his babies”, the performer responded by saying: “Now, that would be an interesting proposition”.

Although he may have come to prominence on Pop Idol, Young has proved himself to be an artist of great stature, so much so that he is now promoting a superlative Greatest Hits package. Of course, all the songs on the album were showcased.

But the audience was also treated to stripped-back, bluesy versions of Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World and, more surprisingly, The Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen In Love With Someone, proving that a great song will always triumph, regardless of the arrangement.

Jazz is undoubtedly a major influence on Young’s present work. Actually Friday’s Child, Who Am I? and Grace are already smooth jazz standards, and you suspect that a more mature Mr Young may become a regular at Ronnie Scott’s. However, although the jazzy Leave Right Now is probably his finest moment to date, Evergreen was left as the encore, proving that Young will never totally shake off the Pop Idol tag.