Posted by Xfactor Danyls father Owen McCubbin, 51, a former delivery driver, didn’t even know his son had auditioned for the programme until last week.
Mr McCubbin separated from Mr Johnson’s mother Maria Burgess, 48, a decade ago and suffered a nervous breakdown last year.
He also lost his job, was forced to sell the family home in Reading and fell out with his son and daughter Janine.
“I had a breakdown and was in hospital, but I’m better now. I really miss Danyl and would really like to see him when he has got time,” he told the Daily Mail. “I was so proud when I saw Danyl on the television. I did shed a tear as he was singing.”
Mr Johnson, a dance teacher, changed his name from McCubbin in his late teens because he thought it was a better name for a performer.
Mr McCubbin sent him a text message at the weekend and had his first contact in a year with his son.
“I texted Danyl before the show to wish him luck and he replied “Thanks”. I haven’t arranged to meet up with him yet but hopefully we will in the future if he has time,” he told the Daily Mail.
Mr Johnson, 27, from Reading, amazed the judges with his rendition of With A Little Help From My Friends and they jumped to their feet to give him a standing ovation.
Simon Cowell said: “I have been doing this job for eight or nine years and that was single-handedly the best first audition I have ever heard.”
[...] XFactor Star Danyl Johnson is heading to the United States to appear on hit breakfast show Today. [...]
Danyl is a star in his own right, why bring his father into it. For Once we have a talented guy who did not use the heart strings to get noticed. X-Factor is getting like the Grand National, always a story behind the star. The guy is great,lets have a clean show this year. Also hats off to the single parent from Essex who said she loves it she makes the rules. Brilliant attitude.