[Feefs]

I found this article on Yahoo News. I suppose it was inevitable the happy families thing couldn't last - at least if you are in the media and reporting on it.

Pop Idol Family Rivalry
The mother of Pop Idol favourite Gareth Gates claims rivalry has broken out between her and the family of his closest competitor, Will Young.

Wendy Gates, whose son is the bookies' choice to win the ITV talent search, has accused Will's family of failing to applaud the other competitors during the shows.

With only three hopefuls left in the programme - the third is Darius Denesh - Gareth and Will could go head to head in the final in a fortnight's time.

'Strange'

But as the competition hots up Mrs Gates, from Bradford, has accused Will's family of being less than sporting.

In an interview with Heat magazine, she said that while she was friends with the mother of Zoe Birkett, who was given the axe on Saturday, she found the attitude of Will's family strange.

"Will tends to keep himself to himself and his family act like we're rivals.

"I've noticed in the last few weeks they never clap after Gareth's performance. We stand up and cheer for the contestants."

Showbiz perils

Mrs Gates also revealed how she had warned her 17-year-old son about the perils of the showbiz world.

She said she had told him to phone her "if anyone offers you drugs".

I don't know what you think, but even if it is true, it can't be helpful to have your mother stirring up (or continuing to stir) trouble between you and the others. They're still sharing a house and when they all become big stars, which I'm sure they will, they'll be glad of the friendships formed at this stage.

I must admit, I can imagine there is a little truth in it. From the little clips we've seen Will does look like quite a private person, so may well keep himself to himself. Zoe and Gareth are quite a bit younger, so he might find it difficult to mingle with them, and Darius is Darius, so he's nice to everyone to extremes. I couldn't care less if Will would rather spend time by himself, but can anyone more obervant than me shed some light on the family clapping thing?

On a happier note - I like the advice she's given Gareth re drugs. Does this mean that she doesn't want to get left out if there's any going spare?