'Talent' producers exaggerated Andrew story

The mother of Britain's Got Talent star Andrew Johnston has admitted that the show's producers exaggerated his story.

In last weekend's launch episode of the ITV1 talent search, 13-year-old Andrew was seen wowing the judges with his performance of 'Pie Jesu'. Viewers also gained an insight into his apparent personal struggles as he spoke about being bullied for liking opera and growing up on a council estate.

However, in an interview with the Daily Mail, Andrew's mum Morag Brannock confessed that they do not live on a council estate at all and revealed that all of her son's schoolfriends are now supportive of his singing.

Morag explained: "I watched the programme myself on Saturday night, and I read the newspapers, and I thought: 'Oh my goodness, what will the neighbours think? That isn't the way it is at all.'

"It sounded like we had drug barons roaming the street, but it's not that bad. I did tell them that when they were filming. I said it wasn't a council estate, it was Housing Association, but I don't think they knew the difference.

"They cut those bits out. People seem to have to put 'council' before the word 'estate'. I don't know why that is. I suppose it makes a better story, doesn't it? And you kind of expect things to get hyped up a bit."

Commenting on the bullies who have now wished Andrew well, she added: "I don't even know if they realise that they were the ones who caused him so much pain. You know what kids are like. They have no idea when they are being cruel."