: Is ‘The X Factor’s’ Danyl Johnson the next Susan Boyle?

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Last week, Simon Cowell dubbed Danyl Johnson, a contestant on English talent competition show ‘The X Factor’ as the best first-timer he’d ever judged.

‘Danyl, that was single-handedly the best first audition I’ve ever heard,’ Cowell said. The performance, which also earned a standing ovation from the ‘American Idol’ judge, has now reached more than 1 million hits on YouTube. Could he be the next Susan Boyle? Johnson, a 27-year-old Reading, England, native, has quickly become a global online sensation in the days following the rave review he received Aug. 22 for his rendition of The Beatles’ ‘With a Little Help From My Friends.’

He performed the tune again this morning on NBC’s ‘Today,’ wowing the show’s hosts. ‘He’s got great range, but he’s also got this incredible presence,’ Matt Lauer said. ‘It’s just extraordinary how he captivated the audience and these judges.’

Johnson is a schoolteacher and was once a member of the English boy band Street Level. He first auditioned for ‘The X Factor’ — an English version of ‘American Idol’ — in 2006 but was sent home before making it to the judges round.

British newspapers are already declaring the crooner the soon-to-be winner of ‘The X Factor.’

— Kate Stanhope

Video credit: MSNBC

Updated: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ as a Joe Cocker song. Cocker produced a remake of the song but the tune was originally performed by the Beatles.