Last updated 23:09, Saturday, 04 October 2008

Talent spotters tipped him for stardom – and their predictions look set to come true with early sales placing Andrew Johnston’s debut album One Voice in the top five this week.

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Andrew Johnston: His debut album has now been released

The Carlisle schoolboy, who shot to fame on TV show Britain’s Got Talent, released One Voice on Monday after signing a lucrative deal with music mogul Simon Cowell.

And his record company has been staggered by its sales – putting him among some of the biggest names in the music business at number five in the midweek UK album chart.

Demand for the 14-year-old’s album has been such that some shops in Carlisle had reportedly sold out by Tuesday.

Trinity School pupil Andrew, of Stanwix, met some of his city fans when he signed copies of One Voice at Woolworths on Wednesday, where he thanked supporters for their backing.

Since appearing on Britain’s Got Talent and winning his deal with Cowell – who has also nurtured the careers of the likes of Leona Lewis and Will Young – Andrew has sung for West End legend Andrew Lloyd Webber and caught the eye of US television host Oprah Winfrey, who wants him to fly to Chicago and perform on her show.

Tracks on his album include his moving rendition of Pie Jesu, Eric Clapton’s Tears In Heaven and Walking In the Air, from the soundtrack of The Snowman.

Footage of Andrew’s first Britain’s Got Talent audition has now been watched by more than five million people on internet video-sharing website YouTube.

Rock band The Kings of Leon are predicted to hold on to the number one spot in this week’s final album chart on Sunday.