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It's been a decade since Jonathan Antoine first auditioned on Britain's Got Talent - and a lot has changed in his life.

Jonathan was just 17-years-old when he was thrusted into the limelight with singing partner Charlotte Jaconelli.

Back in 2012, the classical duo finished as runners-up behind dancing dog act Asheigh and Pudsey, but just days after they were beaten they were offered a 1 million record deal by Simon Cowell's record label Syco.

The pair parted ways two years later, with Jonathan going on to have an incredible solo career and becoming a huge worldwide star.

Despite his global success, the 27-year-old opera star admits he is still a "big homebody" and lives with his mum, dad and sister in Hainault, London.

Speaking to The Mirror, Jonathan has opened up on how BGT "saved" him during a dark time and explained what is happening in his life 10 years on from his second place finish.

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Jonathan, who was training classically at the Royal Academy of Music part-time, says BGT came around "at just the right time" as he was struggling with mental health issues.

Admitting he was "at rock bottom", Jonathan says he was in a state where he didn't see a future ahead of him but had his life transformed by the ITV talent show.

"I was in a really bad place mentally at the time," he tells us. "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."

Jonathan and Charlotte wowed the judges when they sang 'The Prayer' during their first audition - with Simon comparing his voice to that of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti.

While the music mogul urged Jonathan to go solo, the pair remained together for the semi-finals and finished in second place during the final.

Admitting he is being completely honest for the first time, Jonathan confesses that it was "quite devastating" to lose out on the top prize.

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"I remember the feeling of the organs sinking. I didn't cry on stage," he says. "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 despressed."

Jonathan says in a way they didn't lose anything as days after the final they were in the studio with record producer Graham Stack, who has worked with the likes of Britney Spears, Rod Stewart and Kylie Minogue.

After signing that mega recording contract with Syco, Jonathan and Charlotte released debut album Together in Septeber 2012 and second album Perhaps Love in August 2013.

However, they decided to split in February the following year after being offered solo record deals by Sony Classical.

Admitting he always wanted to go solo, Jonathan explains: "Charlotte raised up my confidence to the level I could go on BGT and we made someting beautiful.

"Neither of us had been ensemble arists, 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."

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Jonathan confesses the pair haven't been in contact for a long time, claiming its been "quite some years".

When asked about a possible reunion in the future, he replies: "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."

His first solo album, Tenore, reached number one in the Classical Artist Album chart and he began touring in the UK and the US.

He has worked with some incredible legends, including Mexican operatic tenor Rolando Villazn and Italian painist Leone Magiera, who interpreted opera peices with Pavarotti

Grounded Jonathan has a strong family unit to support him - with his parents and sister recently joining him in America for his tour.

"I wil never be able to express the fortune I've had to be born into that family and have them look after me so well for so many years. Through the struggles and the good times," says the grateful singer.

Jonathan still lives with mum and dad but has his own office space in the back garden, which is home to his collections of guitars and Lego.

His mum is reponsible for maintaining his stunning mane of hair, using three different sizes of curling wands to get his famous look while he is performing.

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One thing that has changed about Jonathan is his appearance, as the BGT star has been trying to lead a healthier lifestyle and lose weight.

"I've still got a lot to lose but I'm making my way," says the inspired singer. "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 its 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.

"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 does mean just pacing round the room, and feels he is now actually living his life.

He adds: "For a long time I wa sjust experiencing life, letting life live me, trying to find the next pleasue. Taking control of your own life, seizing your world with your hands, is very gratifying."

As for what's next, Jonathan will be performing at Ephesus in Greece this August, the ancient amphitheater where gladiators used to fight.

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He has more shows coming later in the year and has teased a new recorded piece for people to enjoy with a "very famous, well-known reputable and legandary song writer".

Jonathan says he has a never-ending list of things he would like to achieve, including performing on every contenant and at a bunch of huge opera venues.

But we may see him switch into a very different career, as the singer has a keen interest in writing and has started creating his own novel.

"I started writing this ironically because it was really cringe and weird. A thing only I would be itnereted in," he tells us.

"I wrote a chapter a day for five days and thought it was really fun and I started to care for it. It's become my child.

"I don't know if I'll ever finish it but it's tackling something completey outside of what you usually do. I'm still trying to figure out if it's any good and if it is maybe you'll see it.

"Like perfoming, you put a bit of youirself out there and you pray and hope people will enjoy it."

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BGT's Jonathan Antoine reveals weight loss transformation and reason he went solo - The Mirror

As the country battles the coronavirus pandemic, talk show host Dr Phil McGraw Oprah Winfrey's protege and a former psychologist has once again made headlines with unnecessary comments that could be more harmful than otherwise.

Dr Phil appeared on Fox News's 'The Ingraham Angle' on April 16 and expressed his disappointment at the country shutting down because of the virus. He noted that the United States does not shut down every year due to deaths from car accidents or smoking and in doing so, Dr Phil used incorrect statistics to make his point.

However, this is not the first time Dr Phil has mired himself in controversy. Over his nearly 20-year career, Dr Phil has raised an eyebrow or two for multiple reasons. Moreover, while Dr Phil listens to his guests and offers advice, he is not a licensed psychologist and cannot legally practice in the state of California.

According to an investigation by Salon, in 1988, Sara Jane Morrison Dr Phil's then-19-year-old client alleged that he carried on an unprofessional sexual relationship with her, would touch her inappropriately, and intentionally kept her "totally dependent" on him.

The TV "therapist" has many more scandals surrounding him and his show and over the years, many lawsuits have been filed against him too. Let's take a look at some of his biggest scandals that outraged America.

In 2008, when Britney Spears was hospitalized after suffering from a highly publicized mental health breakdown, Dr Phil visited the pop star and spoke to the media about it, drawing criticism from mental health professionals and Spears' family.

Dr Phil visited her during her psychiatric hold on Spears' family's request to come in "as a resource to support them, not to go out and make public statements". However, he immediately issued a public statement about the singer's "dire" situation and hoped to get her and her parents to take part in an intervention on his show.

Spears' family complained that he had violated their trust and potentially caused additional psychological damage. The family's statement continued, "Any statements publicly that he made because he was brought in under this cloak of trust, are just inappropriate. We feel like, to set the record straight, we need to say that."

He later apologized not for visiting Spears, but for making the visit public.

Dr Phil launched his weight loss business in 2003, endorsing shakes, energy bars and supplements under the 'Shape Up' brand on his show as well as in his books. The products claimed to contain scientifically researched ingredients that could help people change behavior and take control of their weight.

Dr Phil then came under criticism and investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for lacking the expertise to recommend weight loss products. Three disgruntled customers also filed a lawsuit against Dr Phill, accusing him of making false and misleading statements.

The FTC eventually dropped the investigation after the products were discontinued. Dr Phil denied any wrongdoing and reached a $10.5M settlement agreement with the plaintiffs.

In March 2019, Dr Phil interviewed a woman and her quadriplegic boyfriend and offered them this advice: "You can either be his lover or you can be his caregiver, but you cant be both100 out of 100 times, this wont work."

He was immediately called out for his comments as people with disabilities and their spouses and partners spoke up, defying Dr Phils #100outof100 claims with reflections on love and caregiving. Many viral videos were also created to prove Dr Phil wrong.

In 2008, a producer for Dr Phil's talk show posted bail worth $3,300 on behalf of a teenage girl who led seven other girls in viciously beating up another girl and this was videotaped. The producers bailed the 17-year-old out so she could participate in the taping of a one-hour show devoted to the incident.

The show was later canceled after news about the bail was leaked. In this case certain staffers went beyond our guidelines, a spokesperson for the show said. We have decided not to go forward with the story as our guidelines have been compromised.

In 2016, Dr Phil came under fire from celebrities and mental health experts when he interviewed 'The Shining' actress, Shelley Duvall, who suffers from mental illness. The then 67-year-old Duvall appeared disheveled and rambled nonsensically during the interview. She conceded she was very sick and also spoke about the late actor Robin Williams still being alive and how aliens were implanted in her leg.

Stanley Kubrick's daughter Vivian Kubrick denounced the interview, calling it "appallingly cruel" and an "exploitation". Ronan Farrow and Al Roker also called out Dr Phil over the incident.

In 2013, Dr Phil tweeted from his personal account, "If a girl is drunk, is it OK to have sex with her? Reply yes or no to @drphil #teenaccused." It was subsequently deleted, but not before folks lashed out at the TV doc for making such an inquiry.

"@DrPhil By law, when alcohol is a factor, no one can consent. Don't know what's happening to you? It's rape period," tweeted one user. Another wrote, "Telling that @DrPhil finds a "Should you rape? Yes/no?" question open to debate." One more user wrote, "@DrPhil The answer is No, Never you jackass. And then you kick whoever asked you in the throat."

A joint investigative report from Stat and The Boston Globe revealed that multiple former guests on 'Dr Phil' who appeared seeking help for their addictions alleged that staffers instead enabled their issues.

'Survivor' winner Todd Herzog, who was battling alcoholism, claims that he was sober when he arrived on set for an appearance in 2013, only to find a small bottle of vodka in the dressing room. After he guzzled it, he said, someone gave him a Xanax, saying it would help ease his nerves. He was so inebriated during filming that he had to be helped onto the stage by Dr Phil and several other staff members.

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Dr Phil: From selling out Britney Spears to weight loss scams, the TV host has outraged America before - MEAWW