The X Factor’s Danyl Johnson unrecognisable 15 since show debut with amazing new job
Former The X Factor contestant Danyl Johnson has undergone a remarkable transformation since his debut on the show 15 years ago.
Despite not achieving the same level of success as some of his fellow contestants, including Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon, Danyl has found a fulfilling new career path.
After finishing in fourth place on The X Factor, Danyl struggled to make a breakthrough in the music industry. However, he didn't let this setback deter him, and instead, he embraced a new opportunity as an ambassador for the People's Postcode Lottery.
In an interview with OK!, Danyl shared his enthusiasm for his current role, stating: "Pretty much I give people money for a living – so it’s not bad really."
Despite the challenges he faced after the show, Danyl expressed gratitude for his time on The X Factor and the doors it opened for him in the entertainment industry.
In addition to his work with the lottery, Danyl has also ventured into the world of podcasting. He hosts the podcast Open Doors Open Minds, where he engages in discussions about mental health with various guests.
On a personal note, Danyl often shares glimpses of his life on social media, including adorable photos of his Italian greyhound named Lois and snapshots from his travels with pals to places like Dublin and Prague.
He also enjoys sharing his passion for running, often posting snaps at Parkrun on a weekend, and sharing his love for music and sneak peeks at songs on his page.
While it is not known whether Danyl is currently in a relationship, a comment from Danni Minnogue about his bisexuality became one of the most complained about moments during his stint on The X Factor.
During the first live show, Danyl's performance of Jennifer Hudson's And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going took an unexpected turn. In a bid to avoid drawing attention to his sexuality, he altered the song's pronouns to be heterosexual, changing "You're the best man I've ever known" to "best girl."
Ironically, this decision had the opposite effect, attracting unwanted attention to the matter.
During her critique, Dannii remarked: "A true X Factor performance, turning a girl's song into a guy's song. But if we are to believe everything we read in the paper, maybe you didn't need to change the gender reference?"
Simon demanded clarification, leading Dannii to insinuate that Danyl's sexuality had been exposed. The incident sparked controversy, with almost 4,000 viewers lodging complaints with Ofcom, deeming Dannii's remarks homophobic and a form of cruel outing.
Danyl later disclosed to the Metro that Dannii had apologised profusely for her remarks. Reflecting on his decision to alter the song's lyrics, he admitted he had hoped it would go unnoticed, but it backfired spectacularly.
Despite the uproar, Danyl maintained that Dannii's intentions were not malicious. “One thing about Dannii I’ll say is her room was always open, and she wasn’t my judge,” Danyl continued. “She made a mistake.
“She just thought it was fun and funny, and maybe it was – maybe there was a joke missed.”
He added: “The thing about it is, is it important? It didn’t ruin my life.”
