
Britain's Got Talent choirboy Andrew Johnston in court as finalist accused of raping two women
Britain's Got Talent finalist Andrew Johnston is in court after being accused of raping two women.
The choirboy finished third on the second series of the ITV talent show in 2008, which was won by George Sampson.
Andrew is in Southwark Crown Court today, where he has been accused of raping two women. He has denied two charges of rape and a count of sexual assault.
The singer rose to fame in Britain's Got Talent back in 2008 when he was 13-years-old. He performed the track Pie Jesu, leaving judges Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell completely stunned by his angelic voice.
Although he didn't win the show, which George Sampson triumphed on and dance duo Signature finished in second place, he went on to sign to Simon Cowell's Syco record label where he released an album.
The LP, called One Voice, ended up peaking at number four in the UK charts. Following on from his show success, Andrew went back to education and ended up with a degree in opera studies.
It is believed he then went on to work as a roofer full time, saving money to continue with his singing dreams.
Speaking back in 2019 he said: "Since 2017 I've been working full-time as a roofer.
"I've also been having singing lessons in Manchester to prepare for auditions. The most exciting thing for me will be starting my course in London in the autumn of 2019. Opera is what I want to do.
"I am expecting it to be tough and intense but that's what I want. I want to be challenged at the highest level."
Back in 2009, he discussed when his voice would break and what it might mean for his career.
"They say I've got about a year or two left before my voice breaks and it's really exciting to think what your voice will be in two years' time," he says.
"I could be a tenor or a baritone - or I could even train to be a bass," he said back then.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Coronation Street airs telling scene as Swarla's future 'revealed' amid bombshell
Carla Connor seemed to come one step closer to uncovering Lisa Swain's late wife Becky's past on Friday's episode of Coronation Street as her future with the policewoman became clear Carla Connor seemed to be one step closer to uncovering the truth about Becky Swain on Friday's episode of Coronation Street. The Underworld boss, played by Alison King, has been dating Weatherfield detective Lisa Swain for just under a year now, but it has become apparent over that time that there is still a lot to come to light. As viewers will know, before she made her first appearance on the ITV soap, Lisa was married to Becky and they had daughter Betsy (Sydney Martin) together. But Becky, also a police officer, was killed in the line of duty when she was hit by a car. The circumstances surrounding her death have never been fully disclosed, although it is known that the car was being driven by the brothers of Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan), who was stabbed to by his brother Logan (Harry Lowbridge) death earlier this year. Determined to uncover more, Carla took it upon herself to visit Logan in prison and she managed to extract a kernel of information out of him, even though he seemed unwilling to talk when she first arrived. He told her: "So what happens next? I tell you everything and then I never hear from you again? It's not gonna happen. Money first, then I talk. You cough up, and then I'll cough up." A desperate Carla tried to reason with Logan, as she told him how the whole situation was 'killing' Lisa. Logan asked Carla for £10,000 but she refused and then he let slip the name: "Tia Wardley," as he added: "You can have that one for free. Anything else, you know the price." While all this was going on, Lisa, already reeling as today would have been her and Becky's wedding anniversary, left her counselling session and immediately hacked into her DI Costello's (Daon Broni) email to see what sort of information she can find for herself over her late wife's death. She was shocked to discover that PC Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) had already been on the case, but before she could process that, she was caught by DI Costello himself. She begged: "I have to know what you had on Becky, was she corrupt or not? She was my wife and I'm starting to feel like I didn't even know her!" Lisa's superior threatened her with the sack for reading his emails, but she was undeterred as she insisted that she has a "right to know" more about Becky's death, especially when she was being investigated for something at the time of her death. In the end, Costello tried to throw her off the scent by warning her: "It was a misunderstanding, simple as. I won't take this further, but you need to drop it. Leave the past in the past!" Lisa then coolly slid into the pub to confront Kit, telling him: "My gut said it all along. 'He's a wrong'un Lisa, you can't trust a word he says.' I know what you've done. I saw it in black-and-white. You e-mailed Costello asking to see Becky's files. Why are you so obsessed with my wife?" Kit tried to explain that he had been told to drop it and wasn't prepared to lose his job over the matter, but Lisa quickly branded him a 'liar and a snake' before adding: "You put so much as a toe out of line then I will come crashing down on you, DC Green. I mean it!" And back at the factory, Carla was unable to keep her mind off Tia Wardley. Eventually, she opened her laptop to throw the name into a search engine, but seemed confused when the only results that came back focused on a American sports star, who had retired after she sustained multiple injuries in a cycling accident, and a local lollipop lady with the same name who had retired. Unable to suss things out, Carla closed her laptop and seemed to forget all about it. But things started to come to a head at home later when Lisa asked to borrow Carla's laptop, and immediately spotted her search history. Carla confessed that she had been to visit Logan, and that is how she had become aware of the name Tia Wardley. She told her: "You need answers, I thought I may be able to help", but seemingly brushing everything off, Lisa replied: "And this, Tia Wardley, is it? She's going to help?" Carla then claimed that Logan had probably just been making things up, but things took a concerning turn in the next scene when an inmate walked into Logan's cell and said: "You've been a chatty boy today, haven't you?" and slammed the door. In the end, Lisa decided to commit her future to Carla as she removed her wedding ring and said: "I want to build a life with you, in the house that we bought together. Matching bathrobes, everything. I'm all yours!"


Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch the moment FURIOUS row explodes between Love Island's ‘strongest couple' as they head for split days before final
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island's 'strongest couple' found themselves in a furious row and could be heading for a split - just days before the final. The remaining Islanders played a game of Knowing Me, Knowing You - testing how well the couples know each other. 4 Love Island's Meg and Dejon argued after the latest challenge Credit: Eroteme 4 Their feud continues into the following episode Credit: ITV 4 Dejon picked Yas as the girl he'd couple up with - if Meg wasn't in the villa Credit: Eroteme Dejon and Meg emerged as joint winners and therefore the "strongest couple". Despite this, the pair found themselves in an argument after the challenge. The boys had to answer which girl they'd couple up with - if their actual partner wasn't in the villa. Meg was left shocked when Dejon picked Yasmin, despite recent tensions with her, Shakira and Toni. The couple bickered as Dejon insisted he'd told Meg this before - but his girlfriend argued she didn't remember the conversation. In a first-look at tonight's instalment, it would appear they are still feuding. Speaking to Conor, Meg shares: "I'm not just gonna stand there. He's put Yas on a board again. "I take so much heat from these three girls. You've put on a board that you would recouple with Yas." Conor then interjected, saying Dejon "may have taken the question too literal". Meg added: "It's a challenge, I don't care about it. Love Island fans 'work out' why Dejon turned on Meg as villa's strongest couple hit the rocks days before final "At the end of the day, we're boyfriend and girlfriend. It doesn't matter." Dejon then approached, remarking: "You're going to stop talking as I'm walking past?" Hearing this, Meg repeated to her boyfriend what she'd just told Conor. She then continued: "He just gets so defensive over everything." Later on, the couple are sat together as Meg says: "I had a little chat with Yas. "Obviously, I don't know whether you know from the boys, but she wrote your name on the board yesterday. LOVE ISLAND 2025 - ALL the dumped stars so far LOVE Island 2025 is in its penultimate week. Here are all the dumped Islanders so far ... Sophie Lee Blu Chegini (has since returned) Malisha Jordan Will Means Shea Mannings Poppy Harrison Caprice Alexandra Megan Clarke (has since returned) Remell Mullins Ryan Bannister Alima Gagigo Martin Enitan Chris Middleton Yas Broom Rheo Parnel Giorgio Russo Emily Moran Andrada Pop Ben Holbrough Tommy Bradley Lucy Quinn Lauren Wood Harrison Solomon (quit) Emma Munro Boris Vidovic Billykiss Azeez "You said that she was the second most attractive after me. "Then your heart raced most for her in the Heart Rate Challenge." Will they be able to get things back on track as the final looms? Love Island airs on ITV2 and ITVX.


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Hollyoaks tour cancelled ahead of huge anniversary over 'low ticket sales'
The upcoming Hollyoaks Live tour has been dropped by its promoters, who are said to have 'over-estimated' the appeal for the production, which is external to the TV show A huge tour for a major TV show has been dramatically axed due to low ticket sales. Hollyoaks Live, which is an external production from the Channel 4 soap opera, was expected to hit the road, giving fans an insight into the popular programme but bosses have been forced to pull the plug. But while a string of famous faces from the show had signed on the dotted line to meet with fans, the production, which was due to take place in October, will no longer be going ahead. Soap stars including Nick Pickard, Kieron Richardson, Jorgie Porter, Gary Lucy, and Ashley Taylor Dawson were set to meet fans who had splashed out a whopping £161 for meet and greet tickets, allowing them to ask burning questions about their favourite TV show. It comes after reports Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set for new 'goldmine' offer - but could face issue. However, sources have claimed that bosses behind the production had "overestimated" the appeal for the show, which was due to take place in Manchester, Glasgow and London, had been left with no option but to cancel the entire tour. "The promoter massively over-estimated the appeal a live stage show would have to Hollyoaks' core audience," a source said. They went on to tell The Sun: "The ticket prices were incredibly high for a show that's popular with teenagers. "The decision was made to pull the tour rather than have a loss-making venture with empty theatres." But those who purchased tickets for the events will be offered refunds at their points of purchase. It's understood that the tour was organised by an external production team, with Hollyoaks and Channel 4 having very limited involvement in the planning. A spokesperson for the tour said in a statement: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the planned theatre events with Maple Tree Entertainment featuring Hollyoaks cast are not going to take place as planned. "We are sad to disappoint those who had purchased tickets but they will be refunded via the venues." However, it's a stark contrast for ITV soap, Coronation Street, which is going ahead with a live theatre tour. Long standing cast members from the Manhcester based soap opera will appear at theatres across the nation to discuss their time on the show, in a production which has been billed An Audience with Coronation Street. Fans will pay more than £30 with the promoters promising "behind-the-scenes secrets, share hilarious stories, and relive heart-warming moments from the iconic ITV show". Hosted by This Morning's resident soap expert, Sharon Marshall, the show promises to be filled with laughter, nostalgia, and "more than a few jaw-dropping surprises!" Each event will feature five Coronation Street stars live on stage, including a surprise Corrie legend. The line-up will vary at each venue, with fan-favourite cast members including Andrew Whyment (Kirk Sutherland), Jack P Shepherd (David Platt), Samia Longchambon (Maria Connor), and Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald), with more names to be announced soon. Additionally, former show legends will also appear on stage. The tour will start in September and includes dates in London, Sheffield, Manchester and Glasgow. Promoters say in the first half, the audience will be treated to an intimate and lively interview session with some of Corrie's most beloved cast members. Ever wondered what goes on between takes? Curious about those off-screen friendships and real-life dramas? This is your chance to hear all the gossip straight from the source. The second act will feature a Corrie legend who will appear on stage and talk about their time on the ITV show.