By Sarah Newstead

Last updated 15:03, Sunday, 13 April 2008

A CARLISLE choirboy brought tough-talking Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell close to tears when he told him how he was bullied for singing.

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• Weblink: YouTube: Andrew singing on Britain's Got Talent

How it started: Andrew, who is head chorister at Carlisle Cathedral

Andrew Johnston, 13, of Stanwix, told Mr Cowell how he’s had to battle with the bullies who called him names since the age of six.

Andrew, who is head chorister at Carlisle Cathedral, said: “There were a couple of individuals who used to say bad remarks. And when I was younger I used to get bullied in my street. They used to say things like “gay boy” and “little girl”.

Andrew said that at one point, the taunts and threats almost drove him to quit the choir: “My family helped me and the choir helped me carry on. They talked me through it.”

Viewers saw Andrew stun the Manchester audience last night (Saturday) and even bring a lump to the throat of Mr Cowell as he sang Pie Jesu. Fellow judge Amanda Holden cried openly.

But the Trinity schoolboy told judges on the ITV show: “I have been bullied since the age of six because my mates have been telling me to leave the singing.

“I live on a council estate and I don’t want to hang around the streets. I want to make something of my life.”

A schoolteacher at Stanwix Primary school first spotted Andrew’s potential and urged him to try out of the Cathedral choir at the age of six.

Mr Cowell said his voice was “fantastic” and that he had a real chance of winning the show, while fellow judge Amanda Holden said she was “mesmerised” and that his voice could “knock all those bullies out”.

Jeremy Suter, master of music at Carlisle Cathedral, said he was proud of the way Andrew had persisted.

"It’s perceived in school as not a very cool thing to do. This is a perennial problem and is always going to be the case unfortunately.

“But Andrew is a really good role model for the other boys – he stuck at it even when things got difficult for him. He’s got amazing talent, he’s very musical and has a natural ability.”

Andrew received three yes votes from the judges - which also included broadcaster and journalist Piers Morgan - to make it through to the next round.

The teenager added that Mr Cowell - who said his performance was "one of the highlights" of that day's auditions - did not quite live up to his tough-talking reputation.

“He was really nice – he didn’t say any bad comments,” he added.

Mum Morag Brannock said she was “bursting with pride”.

“It's absolutely brilliant,” she said. “I'm so proud of him. He's got a smashing voice.”

Also a talented rugby player who plays in the second row for Carlisle RFC, Andrew is determined to become a singer with the theatre when he leaves the choir next year.

And no stranger to impressing judges, he scooped the Junior Championship.