Richard and Adam Johnson walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage in 2013 with a simple goal: to show the judges what they could do.
The Welsh brothers were working in a sandwich shop, but singing had been an important part of their lives for years.
For their Week Two audition, they chose “The Impossible Dream” and brought along the person they described as their biggest fan — their Nan. The official BGT description says the performance wowed the judges and brought a tear to her eye.
Contestant Background
Richard and Adam Johnson came from Holywell in Flintshire, Wales.
At the time of their 2013 audition, Richard was 22 and Adam was 19. They had been singing together for around three years and were working in their family’s sandwich shop.
But their musical journey had started much earlier.
According to the brothers’ official biography, their Nan was one of their biggest influences. When they were young, she introduced them to classical singers and encouraged them to sing along, helping build their confidence and interest in an opera career.
So when they arrived at BGT, their Nan wasn’t simply another family member in the audience.
She was part of the reason they had developed their love of singing in the first place.
What Happened on Stage
For their audition, Richard and Adam selected “The Impossible Dream” from The Man of La Mancha.
It was a bold choice for two young singers.
The brothers performed the song in a classical-crossover style, allowing their individual voices to come together as a powerful duet. Contemporary coverage described their version as an operatic interpretation of the classic song.
As they continued singing, the performance grew in confidence.
The audience responded with a standing ovation, while the judges watched the brothers demonstrate the vocal style they had been developing for years.
But there was another person whose reaction mattered deeply to them.
Their Nan.
She had come to BGT as their biggest supporter, and the official BGT description specifically noted that the performance brought a tear to her eye.
The audition therefore became more than a singing performance.
It became a family moment.
Judges’ Reactions
The judges responded positively to Richard and Adam’s performance.
Amanda Holden told the brothers that their Nan must be “bursting with pride,” while David Walliams praised their performance and said he liked its old-fashioned, wholesome quality.
The audience also gave the brothers a standing ovation.
Most importantly, the judges put them through to the next stage.
Their BGT journey was officially underway.
And the audition established something that would become central to their story: the brothers had a classical singing style, but they also had a personal connection to the music through their family.
Why Viewers Liked the Performance
The appeal of Richard and Adam’s audition came from a combination of strong vocals, family connection and an unexpected personal story.
The brothers weren’t presented as established stars.
They were young Welsh singers who were working in a sandwich shop while pursuing their passion for music.
Then they walked onto one of Britain’s biggest talent-show stages and delivered a classical-style performance of a well-known musical song.
That contrast made the audition memorable.
Their Nan’s presence added another layer.
She had encouraged them when they were younger, and now she was sitting in the audience watching them perform for the BGT judges. Their official biography continues to credit her as an important influence on their musical development.
There was also something naturally compelling about the brothers performing together.
They weren’t two unrelated contestants competing for attention.
They were brothers who had developed their musical abilities side by side.
That made the performance feel personal as well as impressive.
Full-Performance Information
Performers: Richard Johnson and Adam Johnson
Act: Richard & Adam
Show: Britain’s Got Talent
Series: Series 7
Year: 2013
Audition: Week Two
Song: “The Impossible Dream” from The Man of La Mancha
Style: Classical crossover / operatic pop
Result: Advanced to the next stage
Full Performance:
The supplied video is the official Britain’s Got Talent YouTube upload, published on April 20, 2013.
Richard and Adam’s journey continued far beyond the audition.
They won their first live-show public vote with their performance of “Somewhere”, sending them through to the final. In the 2013 final, they performed “The Impossible Dream” again and ultimately finished third in the competition.
Their BGT appearance also launched a successful recording career. Their debut album, The Impossible Dream, reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and remained at the top for four consecutive weeks.
Related Stories
- Richard and Adam return to the BGT stage for the 2013 final
- The brothers’ emotional “Somewhere” live performance
- Memorable singing duos from Britain’s Got Talent
- BGT contestants whose performances changed their careers
- The most memorable family-supported auditions on BGT
Two Brothers, One Dream
Richard and Adam arrived at Britain’s Got Talent as two young Welsh brothers with a passion for singing.
Their Nan was there because she had always believed in them.
Then they performed “The Impossible Dream.”
The judges said yes. Their journey continued to the final. And the song that introduced them to millions of viewers eventually became the title of their first No. 1 album.
What makes the audition especially memorable is how simple the story really was.
Two brothers. One song. One very proud Nan — and an impossible dream that suddenly looked a lot more possible.
