Britain’s Got Talent’s Andrew Johnston…Are We Being Played?
The more I read about Saturday night’s Britain’s Got Talent youngster Andrew Johnston, the more I wonder if ITV are trying to play us.
The reason that I love shows like BBC’s I’d Do Anything is that it is based on talent. Not on sob stories or dead relatives, actual genuine talent. You either have it or you don’t.
Now I’m not saying that Andrew can’t sing, in fact this clip proves that he can. But are we hearing about his wonderful voice or great potential? No, we are hearing about his rough housing estate and his school yard bullies. I have kids, and like everyone else I hate to see kids being picked on or having their self confidence undermined but do I want to hear about it when I am watching a light entertainment programme? Not really!
The whole sob story thing seems to be a running theme in ITV reality shows,
Anyone out there agree or am I about to receive hundreds of abusive emails from Andrew fans?
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April 14th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
This was our Britain’s got talent TV experience… My father died 4 days before our televised audition. I told their MANY researchers who had kept me on the phone the night before our appearance in Birmingham that I was fine with them using my life details, I was even okay with them mentioning the passing of my dad, but insisted that when performing on their show I would remain in character. I wasn’t going to sell my father’s death to gain sympathy votes and a good story for them. All day in at the pre-taping we were interviewed many times on camera and all was good. The interviews were funny, we all stayed in character and kept it silly and light-hearted and very Yocal!! Ooo ahh.
When on stage in front of the cameras, a live 1,000 plus audience and the judges again the banter was good and we had the audience laughing and on side. But then Simon Cowell kept insisting I told him my REAL bio. When asked my job I replied “I was an eel whisperer” He wasn’t amused. Frustrated with my answer he went on to Rooster, the drummer who replied that he was a “Chicken Wrangler” When Silver on bass added “And I’m a horse teaser” he threw his pen across the table and folded his arms like a child. Realizing the rest of his quesitoning would be pointless. Our song went down well with the crowd who clapped along throughout. Amanda Holden liked us but eventually caved to the other two’s sheer unamusement only 15 seconds from the end of our act. Cowell buzzed before we even started playing, to which the crowd booed him (he really didn’t like being laughed at I guess)
Even though we had made it to the last 400 (out of nearly 70,000) we had all agreed we weren’t going to give them any “rags to riches, TV” moments so are totally fine leaving the show on our terms. Although, can’t help feeling that the judges don’t know when an act begins and ends, let alone chose one.
I managed to pay my own subtle tribute to dad by having a small pic of him as a lad on my guitar.
Before I left the stage I told Simon Cowell that his act had slipped a bit since the first series and that he’d lost his edge but wished him luck for next year. The crowd cheered and he just said “I’ll manage”
After, outside we had so many people come up to us or shout that they really liked what we did, as we signed autographs.
I’m looking forward to the show airing and see how much of our audition days they dare show in the final cut.
Ian Bedford (of Chuck Cash and the Fenland Cowboys)
April 14th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
hii i thonk i should enter this programme because i have been asked to go to the royal albert hall performances without doing anything accept for practising a dance with someone who asked a dance teacher to watch me and she said if i did an exam i would get honours for everything because i was exellent!! please send me an email on 15th at 4:30 p.m if you can. thankyou alot bye
April 14th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Hi, I accept that everyone is entitled to their opinion but Andrew has worked hard and he has put up with a lot. If you are going to be negative about the show please be more positive about the kid, he has worked hard to get his voice to that standard and if the show/press want to try and get support for him by pointing out how much he has gone through then I don’t have a problem with it.
Adam
April 15th, 2008 at 1:59 am
I am worried that soon it will become a condition of entry that you have a tale of hardship or bullying. Hoping no-one takes offence but the tales of bullying are increasing. Maybe Bullying by definition has become extended to include agreements to differ with those who seem frail or light headed.
Certainly being brought up in a council estate should never be a hindrance if anything it should be a help. Just imagine all those free community singing groups, free choirs that individuals can join or reduced cost drama clubs they are all over Britain. So being brought up in a council estate is an advantage it gives you strength and stamina to stand up for yourself.
Also the picture painted of council estates is of tenants who aren’t worth a light, this is totally unfair and insulting to decent working class citizens who are law abiding citizens.
The television programmes should stop broadcasting tales of hardship, bullying and death unless they intend producing a programme that is about the desperation in society caused through circumstances. In its place they should concentrate on the talent that comes through their doors.
Maureen
Ageing tart/
April 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Hi.
I agree completely with Maureen. By using the bullying story it completely undermines the program.
I agree he has talent, but why even mention this other than to get huge press coverage.
I know an act that will also be appearing, group of young girls. But fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, they all come from nice normal backgrounds, have no traumas or sob stories to tell. They are just brilliant,talented and hardworking. But we will see how much press they get when we have no tales of bullying, hardship or Woe!!
April 21st, 2008 at 12:16 pm
As regards’Madonna’(Filipino singer)- we where in the audience at Manchester and she came across as totally false and seemed to be looking at someone in the audience constantly as she turned on the tears. She had a good voice but the lead singer of the band-The Brink (on stage the same day) was miles better and the band writes their own songs and performs them - how much more talented is that!
May 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Hello,
I totally agree with you he has talent but we heard more about his sob story than his actual story. I feel sorry for him but even his mum admitted to the daily mail that they were exagerating and his friends are giving him alot of support throughout the competition so why make it sound so bad and it really annoys me when i end up liking sum1 but just keep hearing sob stories. Its the talent that matters. Such as Niki she shouldnt have gone on and talked about her mum all the time i agree its rly sad but she should wait till she’s ready so the audience dont get tired off her
Katrina xxxx
May 13th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Sorry i meant we heard more about his sob story than his actual singing
May 28th, 2008 at 2:25 am
i agree the sob storys are gettin out of hand and is the only way most of these acts get any attention. However you can see it in andrew’s and kate’s confidance that they get a hard time as sadly its true for most unicley tallented kids today. sorry about spellin!
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Well, I doubt the final result would totally different if they didn’t put any sob stories into the competitions, and probably Andrew could have won the show at the end. Anyway, BGT is all about entertaining.
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:32 am
Hi,
I am from carlisle and I am appalled by Andrew Johnston, he is a liar and the whole thing is a farce. He didnt live on a council estate he lived in one of the poshest areas of the city, also he was never bullied, he is actually a bully himself, My sister knows him and he admitted to her that he liad on the show. He is actually down on a register of known bullies. I just think that its awful that all his victims have to see him plastered all over the country claiming he was the one that had wrong done to him!