Iconic Britain's Got Talent contestant Jonathan Antoine has opened up about his weight loss and life ten years after his appearance on the hit reality talent show.
Classical singer Jonathan appeared in season six of the popular ITV series aged just 17, performing with Charlotte Jaconelli.
The pair stunned the judges with their performance of "The Prayer" at the audition stage.
Some even compared Jonathan's powerful voice to that of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti, with the singers' performances carrying them all way through to the final, where they were pipped to the post by dancing dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey.
Jonathan has now opened up, telling the Mirror that he felt "devastated" to finish as a runner up.
He said: "I remember the feeling of the organs sinking. I didn't cry on stage.
"You have to then think, with Ashleigh and Pudsey, their mission with animals, they'll probably do more responsible things with that than I ever would.
"Wonderful people as well. Just remembering everyone that comes above or below you is made of the same stuff. We're all flesh and blood and electricity coursing through them. That's how you stay not depressed."
Despite not quite winning Britain's Got Talent, the show still proved to be a launchpad for Jonathan and Charlotte's careers, with the duo being signed up to a £1m contract with Simon Cowell's record label Syco only days after the show finished.
The pair then released two albums, Together in September 2012, and a second album Perhaps Love in August 2012.
They then made the decision to go their separate ways after they were each offered solo record deals by Sony Classical.
Simon also urged Jonathan to go solo in his stint on Britain's Got Talent, with Jonathan saying that this had always been his goal.
He said: "Charlotte raised up my confidence to the level I could go on BGT and we made something beautiful.
"Neither of us had been ensemble artists, we loved solo performances, so it was the natural evolution of the thing. There's only so much a crossover classical duo can actually do without starting to reinvent the whole thing.
"At the point I had the necessary confidence and understood myself a bit more I felt it was time to make the leap."
Jonathan has also revealed that he has struggled with mental health issues, saying that Britain's Got Talent came during a "dark" point in his life.
He added: "I was in a really bad place mentally at the time. I've said many a time it saved me.
"It took me out of the situation I was in and put me into a different space. For a person who's depressed that can do some really great stuff. To be around the glitz and glamour of it is illuminating. I was launched into a world I could never have fathomed.
"It's been a stepping stone into having a whole life. I'm able to live this best life now because of what amounts to one Blackberry message 10 years ago. It's crazy that tiny, little things bloom into these wild experiences."
Since going solo, Jonathan's career has been a success, with his debut album Tenore reaching number one in the Classical Artist Album chart, followed by a tour of the UK and US.
Now 27, Jonathan is preparing for a performance in Ephesus, Greece, in August.
Jonathan still lives at home with his parents, and also revealed that he has recently adopted a healthy lifestyle in an attempt to lose some weight.
He said: "I've still got a lot to lose but I'm making my way. I feel stronger and healthier than I have in 10 years, which is a lot. This year I've made an active choice. I've felt I've lacked the discipline a lot.
"When I was out in America it's fast food everywhere. I was in a terrible state in the start of the year and I've been able to claw my way back doing light exercise."
He added: "I'm a very big fella so heavy exercise would just tear me up. I'm working my way up, thinking about what I eat because that is important."
Jonathan has been doing 10,000 steps a day, even if it just means pacing round the room, and feels he is now actually living his life.
He said: "For a long time I was just experiencing life, letting life live me, trying to find the next pleasure. Taking control of your own life, seizing your world with your hands, is very gratifying."
Jonathan confessed he has not been in contact with his old singing partner, Charlotte, for quite some time, but didn't rule out the possibility of a reunion in the future.
He added: "Maybe in 20 years. I wouldn't hold onto it in the next couple of months. It's been a long time and I still have a lot of stuff I want to do myself first before I go back to duo stuff."
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly Showbiz newsletter here
