== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://bigfootevents.co.uk/hire/danyl-johnson/ Performer profile (booking)]
* [https://bigfootevents.co.uk/hire/danyl-johnson/ Performer profile (booking)]
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*
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:People from Hillingdon]]
[[Category:Reality show winners and contestants]]
[[Category:The X Factor (British series 6) contestants]]
British singer and entertainer
|
Danyl Aaron Johnson |
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Danyl Johnson June 17, 1982 Hillingdon, London, England |
| Occupations | Singer; Songwriter; Performer; Presenter; Ambassador; Podcaster |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2000–present |
Musical artist
Danyl Johnson (born 17 June 1982) is a British singer, songwriter and entertainer. He rose to national prominence as a contestant on the sixth series of The X Factor (UK) in 2009, where his audition received wide praise. Johnson finished in fourth place on the show and has since pursued a career of live performance, songwriting and community work, including charity events and mental-health advocacy.[1]
Danyl Johnson was born in Hillingdon, London, England. Before his breakthrough on television he worked as a performing arts instructor and performed in the UK boybands Upfrunt and Street Level and later formed duo Empty Spaces with song writing partner Nick Burrgage . an experience he has referenced in interviews and charity work
Danyl Johnson’s appearance on The X Factor[1] in 2009 became one of the show’s most talked-about auditions. Performing “With a Little Help from My Friends,” he delivered a confident, high-energy rendition that stunned the judges—earning a standing ovation from the audience and high praise from Simon Cowell, who called it the best first audition he had ever heard. Over the years, that audition has frequently topped fan-made compilations and retrospectives of the “best X Factor auditions ever,” often listed as number 1 in such lists. On YouTube, the official upload of his audition has amassed more than 51 million views — making it one of the most-watched moments in the show’s history. Johnson advanced through the live shows performing a mix of soul, pop and rock covers (notable performances included “Feeling Good”, “Purple Rain”, “And I Am Telling You “, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” ” Man In The Mirror” and “Careless Whisper”) and finished the competition in fourth place. He subsequently joined the official X Factor Live Tour in 2010 for 57 dates.
2010 – Present : Postcode Lottery Ambassador
[edit]
Danyl starting as a singer for Millions events in 2010 in Scarborough and later became an ambassador in 2014.
Johnson now works for the Postcode Lottery, visiting communities where significant prizes have been awarded. He frequently appears in press coverage surrounding major draws, such as Postcode Millions events and monthly street-prize announcements. His role often involves delivering surprise notifications to players who have won prizes ranging from £30,000 to large six-figure awards shared among neighbourhoods.
2010 – 2014: Songwriting & Studio Work
[edit]
Following The X Factor, Johnson concentrated on studio work and songwriting. He worked with a number of writers and producers and recorded dozens of demos; press interviews from the period report that over 50 tracks were developed for a planned debut album, with collaborators including Marc Broussard, Tom Baxter and Lucie Silvas .[3] During this period he also performed widely at concerts, corporate events and charity galas across the UK.
2010 – 2017: Television, Radio Work & Eurovision Bid
[edit]
In 2010 Johnson made a guest singing appearance on the ITV comedy series Benidorm.[4] He continued to perform live and to work on original material. In 2017 he released the single “Light Up the World” and was among the artists involved in the BBC national selection process for Eurovision: You Decide. [5] In 2017 – 2018 he hosted a BBC Radio Berkshire show. .[6]
“TV’s 30 Most Controversail Moment:
Channel 5 (2024) [7]
When Talent Shows Go Horribly Wrong ,
Comedy Central S3.E1 (2020)[6]
2010 – Present: Live Work, Charity & Public Engagement
[edit]
Holiday-Park Appearances & Tours
Danyl Johnson has appeared as a live performer at UK holiday resorts, notably Butlin’s, under its “Big Weekenders” programme.
Performances at Butlin’s
Johnson is listed as one of the headline artists for Butlin’s Big Weekenders, performing at multiple resorts.
Scheduled upcoming (or recent) engagements include resorts such as Minehead, Skegness and Bognor Regis on specific weekend dates.
He has performed at fundraising events for organisations such as the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and Launchpad Reading, and he was awarded the Pride of Reading “Community Champion” award in 2015 for contributions to the local community.[8][9][10] He has hosted podcasts and appeared in online musical productions, including the online 50th-anniversary production of Godspell in 2020.[11]
2020 – Podcast : Best Thing, Little Help Project, Open Doors Open Minds & Han&Dan (Believer, None Believer)
[edit]
’‘Best Thing’’ is a British interview-style podcast created and hosted by singer and presenter Danyl Johnson. Launched in 2020, the series features conversations with entertainers, creators, public figures and everyday guests, each exploring the memorable, meaningful, and uplifting “Best Things” in their lives. The show blends light-hearted storytelling with themes of gratitude, mental-wellbeing, creativity and personal growth.
Other Podcasts : Little Help Project [12] Open Doors Open Minds
Television, Theatre & Radio
[edit]
- The X Factor (2009) — Contestant (Series 6, finished 4th).[1]
- Benidorm (ITV, 2014) — Guest singing appearance.[4]
- Godspell — 50th Anniversary Online Production (2020) — Featured vocalist/ensemble.[11]
- BBC Radio Berkshire — (2018-2019) — New Music, Film Reviews & Weekly Guest
- The Island That Won The Lottery – (Channel 4, 2020) [13]
- When Talent Shows Go Horribly Wrong – (Comedy Central, S3.E1, 2020)[6]
- TV’s 30 Most Controversial Moment (Channel 5, 2024) [7]
- Best Thing (2020-2022) Host [14]
- Little Help Project (2022-Present) Host [12]
- Open Door Open Mind (2022-2024) Co-Host
- Han&Dan (2025-Present) Co-Host
Awards & Recognition
[edit]
- Pride of Reading — Community Champion (2015).[8]
During and after his appearance on The X Factor, Johnson received media attention around aspects of his personal life. He has addressed and downplayed tabloid commentary on his private life and used his public profile to support men’s mental-health awareness.[15]
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