[Red Moon]

Bullied 13-year-old with voice of an angel is tipped to win Britain's Got Talent

He has been mercilessly bullied over his love of opera and has struggled against poverty throughout his life.

But now 13-year-old cherub-faced singer Andrew Johnston is being tipped as the next winner of hit ITV show Britain's Got Talent.

The angel-voiced choirboy is poised to ape the fame and fortune of last year's winner Paul Potts if he wins this year's show.

He has been made red hot favourite after a tear-jerking performance, which moved judges and the audience to tears on Saturday night.

As well as the chance to win £100,000 and perform for Prince Charles at the Royal Variety Performance, he could also be in line for a lucrative recording deal.

Last year's winner Paul Potts landed a £1million worldwide record deal with Simon Cowell after he won the show.

The youngster's emotional rendition of Pie Jesu, the same song that catapulted Charlotte Church to stardom, proved a massive ratings hit for the show.

Britain's Got Talent thrashed rival BBC1 programme I'd Do Anything after the two shows went head to head for the first time.

The ITV show, which features Simon Cowell as one of the judges and Ant and Dec as presenters, peaked with 10.6 million viewers on Saturday night.

It averaged 8.8million viewers as compared with BBC1's Graham Norton fronted Oliver search, which could only manage 5.4million.

BBC bosses will be concerned their show, which is hunting for people to play Oliver and Nancy for a new West End production, was so soundly beaten.

During his appearance on the show Johnston revealed he suffered at the hands of cruel bullies over his love of opera.

His mother also revealed how his childhood of poverty meant he had to survive on bread and milk when times were hard. His performance on the ITV show wowed judges and left one of them, actress Amanda Holden in tears.

Johnston's amazing voice is said to have been discovered by a teacher when he was just seven.

He was so shy that for years his mother had no idea of his amazing voice, she has claimed.

His teacher suggested she took him to the Carlisle Cathedral to join the choir, where he is now head chorister.

Mother Morag Johnston, 48, revealed he has come home in floods of tears over taunts he is gay because he sings in a choir.

She revealed he was too frightened to go out and play in the street in case he is targeted by bullies who have physically threatened him.

On the show the singer said: "I've been bullied since I was six because my mates have been telling me to leave the singing. They don't like that kind of music."

When Simon Cowell asked him how he deal with the bullies, he defiantly claimed: "I carry on singing".

He added: "I live on a council estate and I don't want to be hanging around the streets. I want to make something of my life."

His rendition left Amanda Holden weeping. She told him, "You could knock all those bullies out with that voice."

Morag left the family home with her children when Andrew was eight months old and battled to raise him and three other children.

This came after her relationship with his dad Andrew Snr ended.

Speaking in the Sunday Mirror, she said: "It is heartbreaking to see my own son so upset just because he has been born with a God-given talent.

"Lots of times Andrew has begged me to let him quit singing to stop the bullying. It would be such a waste if he threw away his incredible talent."

He lives with his mum in a three bedroom housing association home in Carlisle, Cumbria. He is said to have little contact with his father.

She works as a researcher for the Office for National Statistics, supplements her income with benefits.

His mum said; "The first time I heard him I cried. His voice just blew me away. Even now I get emotional when I hear him sing because it's such a beacon of hope."

She claimed that times had been so hard in the past that she had fed her children just bread and milk. Morag also claimed she had gone without food because they did not have enough money.

It is said she kept her family together by taking low paid jobs like delivering sandwiches, delivering Indian takeaways and packing eggs.

Her three other children Kelly, 27, Jodie, 25 and Daniel, 22 are from her first marriage.

If Johnston does win the competition he could expect to earn hundreds and thousands if not millions.

Paul Potts has become a sensation after his appearance on last year's show saw him receive more than 22million hits on You Tube.

The mobile phone salesman sang his way to victory with a stirring rendition of Puccini's Nessun Dorma before landing a lucrative record deal.

Like Johnston his first round audition on the show had left Miss Holden crying.

Source:Daily Mail