Simon says ‘Factor’ contestant best ever

It takes a lot to impress grumpy American Idol and X Factor judge Simon Cowell.

But X Factor competitor Danyl Johnson did just that, wowing Cowell into saying that the 27-year-old teacher from Reading, England, is the best he’s ever seen.

“I’ve been teaching kids for the last six years,” Johnson said in his pre-interview. “I really enjoy it, but my passion is music.”

After adding that the audition was the biggest performance of his life, Johnson took to the X Factor stage.

Johnson sang a Joe Cocker-inspired performance of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends,” adding his own soulful tone while jumping around the stage and urging the live audience to sway and sing along.

“Danyl, I’ve been doing this for eight, nine years, and that was single-handedly the best first audition I’ve ever heard,” Cowell said before a packed London audience. “Unbelievable.”

He then shrugged his shoulders, wondering where Johnson has been hiding.

Want to check out Danyl’s performance? Go to YouTube.com and type in “Danyl Johnson.”

greg@tvguide.ca

Vote for TVGuide.ca in the Toronto Sun’s annual readers poll