Film and TV

The giant poster of Danyl Johnson projected on Travelodge by Commercial Light and Magic
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Danyl Johnson's name up in lights

By Natalie Slater
November 25, 2009

The 27-year-old Arborfield lad sang his way into this week’s live shows with a fantastic performance last week but he is now relying on his hometown to vote him into the final.

A Danyl banner illuminated the Reading skyline on Saturday night against the Travelodge hotel opposite penta hotel in Oxford Road, in the town centre.

A Danyl party was going on inside the penta as the projection wowed passers-by, thanks to the talent of Commercial Light and Magic.

Helen Woodford from Starmaker, where Danyl used to be a pupil, said: “It was a fantastic night on Sunday and Danyl is over the moon to be in the last five.

“He is so grateful for all the support to date but we still need some help to get ALL of Reading behind him in the next couple of weeks.

“It’s exciting to think that Simon Cowell has finally bowed to public pressure and is going to let him dance this weekend and this, I hope, will sway those that haven’t voted for him in the past.”

If you are putting a banner up to support Danyl this weekend, take a picture and send it in for the chance to win a night at the penta hotel with complimentary cocktails.

Send your photographs to nslater@reading-epost.co.uk.

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So what does Hugh do on stage then? Hmmmmn....

Well he can't be stand up....for obvious reasons.

He can't be singer...cos he'd realise talent when he heard it.

Maybe an actor?.....nope, you need compassion for that.

Suppose that just leaves Drag Queen....but then they can be funny too....or Magician (shudder).

Whatever you do, your comments speak volumes about your lack of talent...and moreover, envy of people who pursue their AMBITION!!

Oh and BTW Dan the Man... "My girlfriend sits here every night bored of his antics" Why is she watching Xfactor everynight? Can't you keep her occupied?

Bah Humbug - We're bored of you, you have nothing interesting to say, you're not funny....go away and get a job

richiecola, Reading
2/12/2009 at 17:33

Excellent comments Ray Northstander and Lillimarie Maybelle.

Well, for all the haters he's still managed to provoke a passionate response in them. Just goes to show that they watch the programme and read the media articles, same as everyone else.

It must be very difficult to represent yourself through the media and especially on a programme as contrived as X factor. I hope he comes away happy and doesn't dwell on the judgement of a bunch of trolling keyboard warriors. I'm not a fan of the programme but attacking this guy like this is just ridiculous.

Huge, sounds like sour grapes to me. Why don't you come out and let us all judge just how talented you are...

Earley Bird, Reading
1/12/2009 at 22:12

Cllr Keith Baker - what do you expect? Your lot don't exactly give us much to jump for joy about now do they?

As for Danyl Johnson, I'm sure more people would prefer someone with a shred of talent to represent Reading rather than this no hoper, as opposed to following him religiously just because he is from Reading....

Hugh Janus, Reading
1/12/2009 at 16:23

To Bahumbug. What's this?... sense of humour.... humility? I doubt you know the meaning of the word!

Happily my sense of humour enables me to laugh at your rediculous comments!

Lillimarie Maybelle
1/12/2009 at 12:38

To those of you who are not regularly on these coments "blogs" you probably do not know that Hugh Janus, Bahumbug and a few others are professional negative commenters. They manange to negatively comment on anything that appears on this web site and its sister site. It does not matter whether it is about a council, a road issue, buses or even light entertainment. At least it keeps them off the streets!

Cllr Keith Baker
30/11/2009 at 18:32

Simon Cowell didn't put him through to the finals, nor did the "hundreds" of people in Reading who don't like him, but thousands, maybe millions who voted nationally who obviously do. You don't rate the bloke, fair enough, but others do. Deal with it.

ray northstander
30/11/2009 at 11:10

ray northstander thanks for that paragraph of dribble, do u really honestly think that everyones gna vote for this guy? when he has no talent whatsoever and just shouts...

Do you not read all these comments on here from hundreds of people FROM READING that dislike the guy and think he is overated? My girlfriend sits here every night bored of his antics, he even cried to stay in the competition one of the first few weeks and quite frankly a singer that is WAY better than him has already been knocked out of the comp because of 2 stupid little boys that can't sing or dance..

Its not about courage or anything like that as he's done it all before and met Simon Cowell before even going on the X-Factor so u could say he's brown nosed his way to the finals.

Dan The Man
29/11/2009 at 12:40

TO LILLI.You need to grow up and get not only a sence of humor but a sence of humility.If your beloved Danyl is going to survive in the business he is going to have to learn to put up with jokes and remarks about his so called talent or lack of.People like you are not doing him any favours trying to shield him he's a grown man in a tough line of business.So stop acting like a love sick puppy over him.

bahumbug, Reading
28/11/2009 at 00:37

Hugh Janus, the penny has dropped regarding your true identity ;)

TheGoodOldDays
27/11/2009 at 19:36

Hugh, Everyone who has rehearsed their performance, practiced at their craft and then actually got up on to a stage knows at first hand just how much courage it takes to lay yourself bare in front of sometimes ambivalent, sometimes cynical, sometimes overtly hostile audiences.

Once you are out there, there is no hiding place.

It is for this reason performers keep their opinions about other acts private, and why the maxim "those who can, do. those who can't, criticise." exists in showbiz.

Given yor contempt for someone else having that courage, and just trying to do their best, I doubt that you are any kind of performer at all.

Enjoy your virtual career as a music mogul, whilst hiding behind a crass user name, and the anonymity of the internet.

ray northstander
27/11/2009 at 16:43

Lillimarie Maybelle - I just can't support someone who is false and trying to pull the wool over our eyes - that is my opinion, I'm all for people having a go at something but not when they are trying to fool us.

If Stacey were from the Reading area then you wouldn't see so many negative comments - she is genuine and sometimes quite funny.

There is a distinct difference between the two of them.

DickyDo
27/11/2009 at 16:41

Response to DickieDo: You have to be commended for your sponsoring and charity 8,000 mile bike ride all out of your own pocket, and running 2 businesses. As this indicates that you are a kind charitable person I am surprised at your recent damning comments regarding Danyl Johnson. I am sure that you are proud of what you have achieved in your life, so condemning someone else who is trying to do the same appears very hypocritical don't you think? PS I don't do categorizing.

To bahumbug: On reading your valuable response I can only conclude that the term 'chip on the shoulder' sadly comes to mind.

To The Truth: Thank you for your short but interesting response.

To Hugh Janus: I know that man and his dog in the dingy pub, the dog said he didn't rate you!

Lillimarie Maybelle
27/11/2009 at 14:13

Lillimarie Maybelle. You've had a mare love..

The Truth, Reading
27/11/2009 at 11:46

ray northstander - first off, you have absolutely no idea what I have acheived in my career but you will be shocked to know that I do not use the same name on stage as I do on the comments board of a local newspaper forum.

Secondly, I'd rather play to one man and his dog every weekend in a dingy Reading pub knowing that I am playing my own songs and my own instrument rather than selling out playing an awful cover of a pop song to a bunch of housewives and their kids only to be judged by morons like Simon Cowell and Louis walsh.

Hugh Janus, Reading
27/11/2009 at 08:59

Hey lilly very noble of you I'M SURE.Very condisending of you to leave your little well privalidged world to travel to africa for a poor little under privilidged class of people.Nobodys knocking the guy for trying to follow an impossible dream BUT the joking on here is just a realality check he hasn't got the X Factor and no ammount of drumming up idolized support is going to change that.By the way as an under privalidged, born way before you was a twinkle in your mums eye.If I had been at the receving end of your condesending help I would be very offended to say the least.