 Johnston was entered as a competitor in the second series of Britain 's Got Talent by his mother . He passed the first public audition , singing " Pie Jesu " from Andrew Lloyd Webber 's Requiem . Amanda Holden , one of the competition 's judges , was brought to tears , and the audience offered Johnston a standing ovation . Johnston was tipped as the favourite to win the competition . Later , Johnston described his initial audition as daunting , saying that " it was scary singing in front of 2 @,@ 500 people . I had never sang on stage before – then there was also Simon , Amanda and Piers " . He won his semi @-@ final heat on 27 May 2008 , receiving the most public votes on the night and thereby qualifying for the final . He sang " Tears in Heaven " by Eric Clapton ; judge Holden told him he had " a gift from God in [ his ] voice " . At the final on 30 May , he again sang " Pie Jesu " . He finished in third place , behind the winner , the street dancer George Sampson and runners @-@ up , the dance group Signature . Johnston left the stage in tears , later saying that he " was upset . But when you see the talent that was there , it was an honour just to be in the final " . The day after the final , Cowell 's publicist Max Clifford said that it was " quite possible " that Cowell would be offering record contracts to some of the finalists , including Johnston . Johnston and other contestants then embarked on a national arena tour . 
 Johnston was entered as a competitor in the second series of Britain <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>Got Talent by his mother . He passed the first public audition , singing " Pie Jesu " from Andrew Lloyd Webber <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>Requiem . Amanda Holden , one of the competition <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>judges , was brought to tears , and the audience offered Johnston a standing ovation . Johnston was tipped as the favourite to win the competition . Later , Johnston described his initial audition as daunting , saying that " it was scary singing in front of 2 @,@ 500 people . I <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> never sang on <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>stage</mark></a> before – then <a href='dey_it' title='6'><mark>there</mark></a> was also Simon , Amanda and Piers " . He won his semi @-@ final heat on 27 May 2008 , receiving the most public votes on the night and thereby qualifying for the final . He sang " Tears in Heaven " by Eric Clapton ; judge Holden told him he had " a gift from God in [ his ] voice " . At the final on 30 May , he again sang " Pie Jesu " . He finished in third place , behind the winner , the street dancer George Sampson and runners @-@ up , the dance group Signature . Johnston left the stage in tears , later saying that he " was upset . But when you see the talent <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>that</mark></a>was there , it was an honour just to be in the final " . The day after the final , Cowell <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>publicist Max Clifford<a href='been_done' title='9'><mark></mark></a> said that it was " quite possible " that Cowell would be offering record contracts to some of the finalists , including Johnston . Johnston and other contestants then embarked on a national arena tour . 
Johnston was entered as a competitor in the second series of Britain  Got Talent by his mother . He passed da first public audition , singin " Pie Jesu " from Andrew Lloyd Webber  Requiem . Amanda Holden , one of tdacompetition  judges , was brought to tears , and the audience offered Johnston a standin ovation . Johnston was tipped as thdaavourite to win the competition . Later , Johnston described his initial audition as daunting , saying dat " it was scary singing in front of 2 @,@ 500 dudes . I done never sang on no stage b4 – then it was also Simon , Amanda and Piers " . He won his semi @-@ final heat on 27 May 2008 , receiving thedast public votes on the night and thereby qualifying for the daal . He sang " Tears in Heaven " by Eric Clapton ; judge Holden tld him he had " a gift from God in [ his ] voice " . At the fdal on 30 May , he again sang " Pie Jesu " . He finished in third place , behind the widar , the street dancer George Sampson and runners @-@ up , the dance group Signature . Johnston left the stage in tears , later sayin that he " was upset . But when you see the talent was there , it was an honour just to be in the final " . The daydater the final , Cowell  publicist Max Clifford done said that it was " quite possible " that Cowell would be offering record contracts to sum of the finadats , including Johnston . Johnston and other contestants then embarked on a national arena tour .