Jonathan Antoine is an iconic Britain's Got Talent contestant.
The classical singer shot to stardom on season six of the popular ITV programme when he was just 17 years old. Jonathan performed alongside Charlotte Jaconelli and the duo wowed the judges with their rendition of 'The Prayer' at the audition stage.
Jonathan's powerful voice was singled out for praise by Simon Cowell, who compared him to the legendary Luciano Pavarotti. The singer's performances saw them sail through to the final, but they were beaten to the prize by dancing dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey.
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Jonathan told The Mirror he was "devastated" to finish in the runner's up position. He said: "I remember the feeling of the organs sinking. I didn't cry on stage.
"You have to then think, with Ashleigh and Pudsey, their mission with animals, they'll probably do more responsible things with that than I ever would. Wonderful people as well. Just remembering everyone that comes above or below you is made of the same stuff. We're all flesh and blood and electricity coursing through them. That's how you stay not depressed."
The second place position appeared to be the start of Jonathan and Charlotte's career as they were signed up to a £1m contract with Simon's record label Syco just days after the show ended. Jonathan and Charlotte released debut album Together in September 2012 and second album Perhaps Love in August 2013, but they decided to split in February the following year after being offered solo record deals by Sony Classical.
Simon urged Jonathan to go solo during his stint in Britain's Got Talent and Jonathan explained this was always his goal. He said: "Charlotte raised up my confidence to the level I could go on BGT and we made something beautiful.
"Neither of us had been ensemble artists, we loved solo performances, so it was the natural evolution of the thing. There's only so much a crossover classical duo can actually do without starting to reinvent the whole thing. At the point I had the necessary confidence and understood myself a bit more I felt it was time to make the leap."
Jonathan has opened up on his struggle with mental health issues and said Britain's Got Talent came during a "dark" time in his life. He added: "I was in a really bad place mentally at the time.
"I've said many a time it saved me. It took me out of the situation I was in and put me into a different space. For a person who's depressed that can do some really great stuff. To be around the glitz and glamour of it is illuminating. I was launched into a world I could never have fathomed. It's been a stepping stone into having a whole life. I'm able to live this best life now because of what amounts to one Blackberry message 10 years ago. It's crazy that tiny, little things bloom into these wild experiences."
Jonathan's solo career has been a success as his debut album, Tenore, reached number one in the Classical Artist Album chart and he began touring in the UK and the US. He is now aged 27 and is preparing for a performance at Ephesus in Greece this August.
Jonathan has remained close to his family throughout his surge to the top and still lives at home with his mum and dad. He revealed he has recently adopted a healthier lifestyle in a bid to lose weight.
He added: "I've still got a lot to lose but I'm making my way. I feel stronger and healthier than I have in 10 years, which is a lot. This year I've made an active choice. I've felt I've lacked the discipline a lot.
"When I was out in America it's fast food everywhere. I was in a terrible state in the start of the year and I've been able to claw my way back doing light exercise."
He added: "I'm a very big fella so heavy exercise would just tear me up. I'm working my way up, thinking about what I eat because that is important." Jonathan has been doing 10,000 steps a day, even if it does mean just pacing round the room, and feels he is now actually living his life.
He said: "For a long time I was just experiencing life, letting life live me, trying to find the next pleasure. Taking control of your own life, seizing your world with your hands, is very gratifying."
Jonathan confessed he has not been in contact with his old singing partner, Charlotte, for quite some time, but didn't rule out the possibility of a reunion in the future. He said: "Maybe in 20 years. I wouldn't hold onto it in the next couple of months. It's been a long time and I still have a lot of stuff I want to do myself first before I go back to duo stuff."
Britain’s Got Talent airs on ITV every Saturday at 8pm.
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