Susan Boyle

A star is born!
The audience were on their feet and cheering by the time 47 year-old Susan Boyle had finished singing.

The unassuming, currently unemployed lady from West Lothian near Edinburgh had looked shy and a little out of place as she stepped on stage.

There were even smirks on the judges' faces when she told them, "I am trying to be a professional singer. I've never been given a chance before but hopefully that will change".

Then Susan, who has ambitions to sing on stage like Elaine Paige, launched into the West End anthem I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.

And the look of shock and awe on Simon Cowell's face as he did a double-take at her talent was worth a million pounds in itself. As Simon recovered, Piers and Amanda were giving Susan a standing ovation.

Piers told her, "Without a doubt that was the biggest surprise I have had in three years. When you stood there with that cheeky grin and said 'I want to be like Elaine Paige' everyone was laughing at you. No-one is laughing now, that was stunning. I am reeling from shock".

Amanda agreed. "I am so thrilled because I know everyone was against you. We are all so cynical but that was a complete wake up call. It was a complete privilege".

And Simon, so impressed he tried to pretend he knew what was coming from the start, said, "Susan, I knew from the minute you walked onto the stage that we were going to hear something extraordinary and I was right".

The delighted hopeful had already heard a "Definitely yes" from Amanda, and "The biggest yes I have ever given anybody" from Piers, when Simon rounded off the judges comments.

He said; "Susan, you can go back to the village with your head held high - you have three yeses".

"You are a little tiger!"

11 April 2009
(http://talent.itv.com/news/story/item_100057.htm)