BROTHERS Max and Harry Mondryk are back home in Whitefield after a starstruck week at the centre of one of the country’s top TV shows.

And for 15-year-old Max, it was down to earth with a bump as he had to sit a Maths exam on Monday.

Max and younger brother Harry, aged 13, reached the final of Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday as part of boy band Connected. Their version of Westlife’s What About Now did not get enough votes to win the competition and the title was taken by gymnasts Spelbound.

But the talented duo — together with other band members Matt Fitzgerald, aged 13, from Burnage, and twins Connor and Miles Ryan, also aged 13, from Sale — still have plenty to be happy about after performing in front of millions of people and meeting some of their idols, including JLS.

And they have booked themselves a place on the Britain’s Got Talent tour, which will see them perform in some of the UK’s largest venues.

They will start rehearsing on Saturday, with the first show at the Manchester Evening News Arena on June 19.

Their proud mum, Sally Mondryk, said: “The boys had a fantastic experience and they met some great people. I don’t think they ever expected to win. They wanted to get a place in the final and go on the tour, which they have done. They can’t wait for it to start.”

The group auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent in Newcastle, where they performed their version of the Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way.

It met the approval of judges Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan, but Simon Cowell criticised the band for being “15 years out of date”. They were given a second chance and performed Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, and were unanimously voted through to the next round.

In the live semi-final, they sang No Boundaries by American Idol winner Kris Allen and got the judges’ votes to send them through to the final.

Their performance of What About Now met with further approval in the live final, with Amanda saying: “You are going to be massive, if you win this show or not.”

But Simon believed the band should have chosen a different song, saying they looked like they were copying Westlife.

Mrs Mondryk, of St Joseph’s Avenue, Whitefield, said: “They couldn’t have sang better in the final. They sounded great and were well received.

“They were pleased that they managed to turn Simon round in the semi-final. They were disappointed with what he said in the final, but they stayed true to themselves. They are a boy band and they liked the song.”

The band hopes the talent show has given them a springboard to stardom.

Mrs Mondryk said: “Everyone thinks something will come out of this for them. They have had brilliant exposure and would love to get a record deal.

“They are tied in to Britain’s Got Talent and Sony for three months, and then they will find out if they want to take them on. If not, we’re hopeful that someone else will.”

But first, Max and Harry are busy settling back into normal life and have the small matter of exams at Philips High School.

Hours after returning home from London, Max was busy sitting his maths GCSE exam.

Mrs Mondryk said: “He probably hasn’t revised as he should have, but he can always take the exams again.

“This was the only opportunity he was going to have to take part in Britain’s Got Talent and it’s hopefully where his future lies, so he had to jump at the chance to do it.”

Headteacher Mr Chris Trees said: “I am very proud of Max and Harry.

“They love singing and have entertained us in school pantomimes and other shows.

“They have taken this opportunity with both hands. I hope that even though they weren’t the winners, something will emerge from this for their long-term benefit.”