A BRITAIN’S Got Talent legend has bravely opened up on how the show saved him from suicide.
The ITV show star, who delighted fans with his vocals in the 2012 season, finished second place in the sixth series with his singing partner Charlotte Jaconelli.
Ultimately. Jonathan Antoine and his co-star were beaten to the prize by performing dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey.
Despite not scooping the main show title, Jonathan, 31, has revealed how it came at just the right time with regard to his mental health.
The east London born star, who credited Simon Cowell in his life turnaround, bluntly told The Mirror how the series proved pivotal and said without it “I don’t think I’d be here at all”.
He continued: “I made plans to end my life.
“I had just dropped out of school with no actual prospects.
“I was directionless.
“At the very right moment, it picked me up out of the dirt.”
He told how he had been subject to bullying and “othered” because of his weight.
Previously, the classical vocalist said parents were terrified to leave him home alone in case he harmed himself.
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
He suffered a nervous breakdown, but found the strength to audition for the show which would go on to change his life.
Jonathan added: “Singing is my super power. Singing has saved my life.
“It’s given me the life I have now and allowed me to travel the world and meet amazing people. It’s given me purpose.
“And it’s given me a lifeblood”.
Jonathan and BGT partner Charlotte soon recorded their first album, Together, for Simon Cowell’s label Syco, and it reached No 5 in the British charts.
The pair then split as an act in 2014.
BGT’s Best Golden Buzzer Moments
BGT have handed out many Golden Buzzer’s over the years, can you remember some of the most famous
- Loren Allred – Loren Allred, 32, from Brooklyn, New York jetted to London to audition after recording the vocals for The Greatest Showman. The stunning singer got a standing ovation and a Golden Buzzer from the judges as she delivered a stirring rendition of Never Enough from the popular film. Loren came out on stage and revealed to the judges they would have heard her voice many times before that moment. “I was hired to record the vocals for The Greatest Showman as a guide for the actors to know how to sing the songs,” she explained. Loren then revealed actress Rebecca Ferguson was so stunned by her singing that she decided to let her vocals be heard in the movie. “So she lip-synced,” Loren said.
- Chicken Shed Theatre Company – Comprised of individuals aged between 5 and 37, the group was set up to welcome anyone irrespective of background to get up on stage and perform and fulfil their dream. Chicken Shed prides itself on accepting anyone and does not hold auditions to make the group a safe and inclusive space. The group wowed as they performed Wonder by Naughty Boy featuring Emeli Sande. It meant that Alesha wasted no time as she decided to hit her golden buzzer for the young performers. She told them it was her “honour” to reward their inclusiveness with her golden buzzer.
- The Dancing Granny – Granny Paddy Jones and her professional partner Niko Espinosa first hit headlines when they won the Spanish talent show Tú sí que vales in 2009, before going on to appear on Britain’s Got Talent in 2014 where they came ninth. Amanda Holden was so impressed with Paddy that she gave her the Golden Buzzer, which sent them straight through to the semi-finals. But things took a worrying turn when Paddy cracked a rib while rehearsing a new move and her place on the show was under doubt. She was given the all-clear to perform in the end but didn’t quite live up to expectations.
- Bars and Melody – They will forever be remembered for their anti-bullying song on the talent show. Bars and Melody were first seen on the 2014 series of Britain’s Got Talent, getting shuttled into the semi-finals when Simon Cowell pressed his Golden Buzzer. They made it to the final thanks to a performance of I’ll Be Missing You but lost out on the crown to Collabro. These days Charlie Lenehan – known as Melody – is covered in tattoos, with inkings on his neck, arms and chest. But he is as close as ever to co-star Leondre Devries – who is Bars – with the pair seen enjoying themselves in exotic locations all over the world.
Back in 2022 he revealed he had autism, and told how he is currently still receiving medication for depression.
He said the mental illness is something he is learning to “deal with” before praising the support of his family
Talking of his autism he added to the publication: “I’ve had so many people, especially since the diagnosis, who have reached out and said their loved ones, their kids, are autistic as well, or they themselves have sort of explored it more since”.
Since his show fame, he has also seen huge success in the US.
In 2020, he revealed a brand new look after his four stone weight loss.
Jonathan ended up dropping from 20st to 16st.
He said: “I signed up with WeightWatchers last year [in 2020], but I didn’t take it seriously until this April – now I’ve lost 4st.
“I never felt pressure to lose weight from people in the music industry but I wanted to do it for myself. I feel much better within myself and will keep going.
“I don’t have an ideal size in mind – I just want to be healthy.”
