It had to be. The unstoppable juggernaut that is Susan Boyle, singing sensation extraordinaire, shows no sign of stopping.
It had to be. The unstoppable juggernaut that is Susan Boyle, singing sensation extraordinaire, shows no sign of stopping.
The deluge of internet hits since her name was launched on the world was translated into telephone votes last night which saw her become the first act through to the final of Britain's Got Talent.
Fears that viewers of the ITV talent programme would succumb to hype fatigue failed to materialise as the 48-year-old media phenomenon from Blackburn, West Lothian wrote another chapter in her remarkable adventure.
With a weight of international expectation resting on her shoulders, Susan overcame a nervous opening to emulate her musical hero, Elaine Paige, with a performance of Memory from the musical Cats that prompted a standing ovation in the glitzy London studio.
She said: "All my life I've always striven to prove that I can be accepted; that I'm not the worthless person that people think I am, that I do have something to offer.
"Being on Britain's Got Talent is a chance to turn things around; to fulfil the dream. I just want that chance to perform in front of the Queen."
On hearing that she'd won, the singer shook her hips suggestively at judge Piers Morgan.
The former editor said: "The world is going through a pretty tough time and looking for a bit of hope and inspiration. Along came Susan Boyle to provide it, and, on behalf of the whole world - because they're all watching you tonight - thank you, Susan, because you've been terrific."
It means Susan Boyle is one step closer to claiming the top prize of £100,000 and a place on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance.
While YouTube visits in excess of 100million have been recorded for her first rendition of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables - not to mention name-checks on The Simpsons and South Park, an interview with Oprah Winfrey and a reported invitation to dinner with President Barack Obama - there was no guarantee that the number of fans picking up the phone to vote would mirror the figures of her overnight internet success.
More than five times as many people have viewed her performance online as watched President Obama's victory speech on election night.
Cowell, who Boyle refers to as "the boss", said: "Susan you are one special lady, I have to say. I just want to apologise for the way we treated you before you sang the first time. You made me and everyone else look very stupid. I'm very happy and proud of you."
Six weeks on from the broadcast of that first audition at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow, filmed in late-January in front of a live audience of 3000, the church volunteer sported a preened and mildly-revamped look, but still a long way off the glamour makeover some had predicted. Gone was the dowdy gold wedding frock in favour of a sparkling aubergine brocade dress, pruned eyebrows, youthful make-up, and her greying mane tamed into a smart, brown bob.
The singer, who has mild learning difficulties as a result of being starved of oxygen at birth, was sent good luck messages from as far afield as the US, Brazil, Hong Kong and Australia ahead of last night's performance.
She was competing against seven acts in the first of five live semi-finals, in which the 40 shortlisted acts will be whittled down to 10 for the grand final on Saturday evening.
First-placed Susan immediately made the final, but the judges were responsible for picking between the second and third-placed acts from the audience vote. Essex street dance fraternity Diversity, who opened the show with an energetic Mission Impossible tribute, also made the final after winning over two of the three judges.
Amanda Holden voted unsuccessfully for 10-year-old baby-faced singer Natalie Okri, who had sung and danced to Jamelia's Superstar.
