Simon Cowell has admitted that he still doesn't like Will Young and 10 years on cannot bring himself to watch the first Pop Idol final because he was so disappointed that Gareth Gates lost.
Cowell said his first impressions of the eventual winner Will Young were that he was 'obnoxious' and 'full of himself'.
Speaking on ITV1's The Talent Show, Cowell said his opinion of Will had not changed.
He said: "I thought, 'this will be interesting - you don't like me, I don't like you' ... and nothing's changed particularly."
Nikki Chapman, who was alongside Cowell on the judging panel for the 2002 series said Gates had 'the most beautiful voice', admitting: "We were all smitten."
Cowell said the shock result which saw Young win made him feel 'sick'.
He said: "I still to this day can't watch the final back because I was really, really disappointed. I really liked Gareth and wanted him to win."
The new five-part series, which includes contributions from Dannii Minogue, Piers Morgan, Tulisa and Pete Waterman, starts on Saturday at 8.30pm.
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