Richard and Adam Johnson didn’t arrive on the Britain’s Got Talent stage looking like established stars.
The Welsh brothers were working in their family’s sandwich shop when they decided to take a chance on their musical dream.
For their 2013 audition, they brought along the person they considered their biggest supporter — their beloved Nan.
Then they began singing “The Impossible Dream.”
Within seconds, the brothers’ classical-style voices transformed the familiar song into something completely different.
The audience rose to its feet.
And Richard and Adam had officially announced themselves as one of the most memorable singing duos of the series.
Two Brothers With a Dream
Richard and Adam Johnson came from Holywell, Wales, and were nineteen and twenty-two years old when they appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2013. ITV later identified them as sandwich shop workers who brought their Nan along to support them at their audition.
Their Nan wasn’t simply there for moral support.
According to Richard and Adam’s official biography, she had been one of the biggest influences on their musical development. When they were young, she introduced them to singers including Caruso, Mario Lanza and The Three Tenors and encouraged them to sing along.
That family connection made the audition especially meaningful.
The brothers weren’t chasing the dream alone.
They had someone in their corner who had encouraged them from the beginning.
Then They Chose “The Impossible Dream”
For their audition, Richard and Adam selected “The Impossible Dream,” a song from Man of La Mancha.
It was a bold choice.
Instead of performing a contemporary pop hit, the brothers gave the classic song a classical-crossover treatment.
Their voices blended together as they built the performance, creating the kind of dramatic sound normally associated with much larger productions.
The contrast was striking.
Two young men who had been working in a sandwich shop were suddenly standing on the BGT stage delivering a powerful operatic-style performance.
And their Nan was watching from the audience.
The Audience Rose to Its Feet
As the performance progressed, the reaction from the studio audience became stronger.
When Richard and Adam finished singing, they received a standing ovation.
ITV later described the brothers as having wowed the judges — and their Nan — with their rendition of the song.
The audition was not just about vocal ability.
There was also something emotional about seeing the brothers perform for the woman who had supported their musical ambitions.
Their Nan had been their biggest fan long before millions of television viewers knew their names.
Now she was there to watch them take their biggest step yet.
From Sandwich Shop Workers to BGT Finalists
The successful audition was only the beginning.
Richard and Adam continued through the competition and became finalists in the seventh series of Britain’s Got Talent. ITV listed them among the finalists alongside acts including Attraction, Jack Carroll and Asanda Jezile.
During the live shows, the brothers continued to demonstrate their classical-crossover style.
They performed “Somewhere” from West Side Story in the semi-final and topped the public vote to secure their place in the Grand Final. ITV reported that they were the first act to make it through to the final that year.
Their journey had gone far beyond what they could have expected when they first stepped onto the audition stage.
Their Final Performance Became Another BGT Moment
Richard and Adam returned to the BGT stage for the 2013 Grand Final and performed “The Impossible Dream” once again.
This time, however, something completely unexpected happened.
During their performance, a woman from the backing group walked toward the front of the stage and began throwing eggs at the judges, including Simon Cowell.
The brothers didn’t stop.
They continued singing and completed their performance despite the disruption. ITV confirmed that the woman, later identified as Natalie Holt, was part of their backing group and that the incident was not part of the act.
It was an extraordinary situation, but Richard and Adam remained focused on the song.
Third Place — Then a Number-One Album
Richard and Adam ultimately finished third in the 2013 competition, behind winner Attraction.
But their BGT journey didn’t end when the competition did.
Their debut album, The Impossible Dream, went straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart and remained at the top for four consecutive weeks. ITV reported the achievement in August 2013.
Their official biography also notes that the success led to a sell-out UK tour and further albums and performances.
What began as two brothers singing for their Nan had become a professional musical career.
Why Their Audition Still Stands Out
Richard and Adam’s audition has a simple story at its heart.
Two brothers had a dream.
Their Nan believed in them.
They walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage.
And they sang.
The choice of “The Impossible Dream” made the story even more fitting. The song itself is about continuing to pursue something that seems almost impossible.
For Richard and Adam, the dream was to build a life around their music.
Their BGT audition showed the audience that the dream might actually be within reach.
Full-Performance Information
Richard and Adam Johnson auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent Series Seven in 2013.
The brothers, from Holywell, Wales, performed “The Impossible Dream” and received a standing ovation. Their Nan attended the audition as their biggest supporter.
The brothers went on to become BGT finalists and ultimately finished third in the competition. Their debut album, The Impossible Dream, later reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.
Watch Richard and Adam’s Full Audition
Want to see the performance that introduced Richard and Adam to the Britain’s Got Talent audience?
Watch their full audition here:
The video is the official Britain’s Got Talent upload of their Week Two audition, featuring the brothers’ rendition of “The Impossible Dream” and the emotional reaction from their Nan.
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The Dream Became Real
Richard and Adam walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage as two brothers with a musical dream.
They left the audition with a standing ovation and a path into the competition.
Their Nan had believed in them from the beginning, and millions of viewers eventually got to hear exactly why.
The brothers went on to reach the BGT Grand Final, finish third and achieve a number-one album with The Impossible Dream.
For two sandwich shop workers who simply wanted their musical dreams to come true, it was an extraordinary beginning.
Sometimes, an impossible dream only needs someone to believe in it first.
