The interest in Susan was immediate and intense, provoked by the contrast in her appearance and her voice. On the one hand she was being compared to Paul Potts, another ungainly looking singer who had won Britain’s Got Talent two years earlier thanks to his remarkable voice, but the reaction Susan provoked was quite unique. It was inconceivable. Nothing like that had ever happened before.
But though the world of television was reeling, it was nothing compared to what Susan was feeling. Being thrust into the public eye like this would have given even the most savvy media manipulator pause for thought. But Susan wasn’t savvy: what you saw was exactly what you got, and so, having no concept of how huge the interest in her was, or how everything she said and did would be magnified by the unforgiving glare of the newspapers (with the possible exception of the Financial Times), Susan made various remarks and jokes that got blown up out of all proportion. At this early stage she had minimum guidance on how to deal with the press, for the simple reason that no one had anticipated the level of interest she received.
An early case in point was an off-the-cuff remark Susan made about Piers Morgan, for whom she undoubtedly developed a tendresse, but not quite to the extent that it was written up in some quarters. She had already confessed live on air that she had ‘never been kissed’, although even that was not quite the truth, and now, rather unwisely, she spoke of her admiration for Piers.
‘Up until now I have never met the right man, but maybe that will change now I have met Piers,’ she declared to the bevy of reporters who had gathered outside her modest home in Blackburn, anxiously digging up every bit of information about this extraordinary woman who had so enthralled the nation. ‘He’s a very handsome man. It’s quite hard to choose between Piers and Simon because they’re both lovely, but I think it would definitely be Piers.’
It was pretty harmless stuff, but a gift to the writers of the huge amounts of copy that would come to be written about SuBo, as she came to be nicknamed.
However, there was also a more serious side to what Susan had to tell the reporters who trailed her. It wasn’t just that she was casual about her appearance and a bit of a country bumpkin, she’d had genuine medical difficulties that had caused her problems all her life. Without a hint of self-pity Susan declared, ‘I am a slow learner. All my life people have told me what I can’t do rather than what I can do, so it’s nice to show the country that I can sing. I find it so much easier than talking to people. I sing from the heart and can communicate how I feel so much easier.’
That wasn’t the end of it, either. While Susan wasn’t a creature to be pitied, her life had clearly been harsh, not least because she lived alone. ‘I lived with my mum up until she died two years ago from old age,’ she went on. ‘Now I only have my cat Pebbles for company, but when I sing I know my mum is still listening.’
As all this and more came out, the atmosphere surrounding Susan shifted. When she’d first walked out on to that Glasgow stage there had been an unmistakable sense of mockery in the air; a feeling that an ungroomed woman from the sticks who compared herself to Elaine Paige was setting herself up for a fall. But as Susan’s vulnerabilities became clear, there was a pervading sense of shame about people’s initial reactions. Susan had clearly been bullied all her life in one form or another, and now here she was, having the guts to stand up in front of 3,000 people in an auditorium, 11 million on television and, courtesy of YouTube, 33 million worldwide and show what she could do. Why shouldn’t this woman be given a chance? Why shouldn’t she be allowed to achieve her full potential? And above all, what right had others to mock? She was only human. Didn’t she have feelings, too?
Nor did it seem right to be unkind about someone who had led such an exceptionally sheltered life. ‘I’ve never been kissed,’ she reiterated to the Mirror as the newspapers fought with one another to see who could get her life story first. ‘If someone even pecked me on the cheek it would be nice, but I’ve never even got that close. My parents didn’t want me to have boyfriends so I’ve never been on a date. I suppose I’ve accepted it’s never going to happen. The only thing I really do regret is not having children. I love kids and would have liked to have been a mum.’
That crush on Piers - whose long-term girlfriend is the journalist Celia Walden - was making itself felt, too. ‘He’s gorgeous,’ Susan repeated. ‘I remember when America’s Got Talent first came on and I saw him and thought, He looks really nice, I wonder who he is? I was too embarrassed to tell him how I felt when I was at my audition, but I had my hair curled especially for the show and wore a dress I’d bought a few months back for my nephew’s wedding. I like Simon Cowell, too. He is beautiful but he’s the boss. I’ve got too much respect for him to have feelings like that. I used to have a crush on Terry Wogan, too, but he’s a bit old for me now.’
No one with a heart who heard any of this could have failed to feel for Susan. Although it was later to emerge that she had been on television once before and had had at least one suitor, her sheer artlessness as she described her background and life was as powerful as anything she said. There was no agenda here; it was quite simple. Susan wanted to be a singer, had never had any real opportunities before and was taking advantage of getting noticed any way she could. She was a modest, straightforward woman who had nursed her mother in old age and who lived alone with her cat. Who could fail to be moved by that?
It was all of these elements - Susan’s modesty, lack of self-pity, dignity in the face of bereavement and bullying and, of course, her beautiful voice - that made it clear early on that she would become a sensation. Furthermore, she was attracting a huge amount of attention in the United States. As well as Oprah, a string of American talk shows and channels had expressed an interest in her, including Larry King Live, Good Morning America, NBC and CBS.
Meanwhile Elaine Paige, who had noted Susan’s ambition to emulate her own success, promptly provided her with another celebrity endorsement. Indeed, she went a step further by suggesting they work together. ‘Ever since Susan’s appearance on Britain’s Got Talent my Radio 2 inbox has been flooded with emails,’ she wrote on her website. ‘It seems her performance has captured the hearts of everyone who saw it, me included . . . it looks like I have competition! Perhaps we should record a duet? She is a role model for everyone who has a dream.’
Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who staged the original production of Les Miserables, agreed. ‘I think there’s every chance Susan Boyle will have the number one album in America, I will predict that,’ he said. ‘I was gobsmacked by her powerhouse performance. Vocally it was one of the best versions of the song I’ve ever heard.’ Sir Cameron is one of the most influential people in British theatre, and has worked with some of its biggest names, so coming from him this was high praise indeed.
Susan duly appeared on Larry King Live, along with Piers Morgan, who asked her out to dinner (an invitation she accepted). During the interview Susan tried to make sense of the extraordinary events of the previous few days. ‘It’s all been complete mayhem, like a whirlwind going on an express train,’ she said. ‘I never expected all this attention. It’s been indescribable and completely mad, but I could get used to it.’
Piers Morgan was staggered by everything that was happening to Susan and was one of the first to see her huge potential and the massive possibilities for this extraordinary new find. Like many of the people involved in Britain’s Got Talent and Susan’s life, Piers blogged regularly, and at the time he wrote, ‘I can remember the moment she first opened her lips perfectly,’ he wrote. ‘I can honestly say it was one of the most extraordinary moments in my perhaps equally unlikely career as a talent show judge. Susan Boyle is not just a good singer, she’s a fantastic singer. As I watched her performance back again I texted to Simon in Hollywood: “My God, Susan was even better than I remembered. She’s unbelievable.” He agreed, and I could almost feel his beady little eyes going “KERCHING!” down the line. For unless I am a brainless aardvark then this West Lothian villager
is going to sell a lot of records once this series is over.’
Even at this early stage, with only one appearance on Britain’s Got Talent behind her, and before anyone had a clue how things were going to pan out, there was talk of an album. No one yet knew what a phenomenon Susan was to become, but industry insiders knew they’d seen something special, and were keenly aware of her commercial potential. Larry King put this to her, but Susan wisely played it down.
‘It’s too early for things like that,’ she said. ‘I’m just taking baby steps until I see how I do in the competition.’ Nor, as yet, did she see any need to change her appearance. ‘Why should I change?’ she asked. She was to change her mind on that one, however, and pretty soon, too.
Indeed, in another interview Susan gave back then - and she was inundated with requests - she seemed less happy with how she’d come across. ‘They say that television makes you look fat and it certainly did,’ she told the Mirror. ‘I looked like a garage. It was mortifying to see and a bit of a shock. I didn’t realize I could reduce people to tears and I hope it wasn’t because of that. I’m proud to be part of the show. It really is a dream come true.’
How much of a dream was brought home to her when she attended the Easter service at her local Catholic church and was greeted by a standing ovation - something she would get used to in the months ahead. She had worked in the church as a volunteer for years, but now suddenly the tables were turned and the congregation was applauding her. ‘It was incredible,’ said Susan afterwards. ‘Although we sing in church, not a lot of them knew how good I was, so it was a bit of a shock to them. I’m a bit shy and retiring so they would never have known. It was very emotional. Everyone is very nice and it’s lovely when all the kids stop me in the street to congratulate me.’
That was a change, too. Although Susan was well liked in the village, there was a rogue element that made life difficult for her, and they were certainly learning to look at her in a very different way. ‘People used to shout things at her in the street, but they have all changed their tune now,’ said Vicky McLean, one of Susan’s neighbours. ‘I ran into her the other day on the way to the shops and she said she knew who her real friends were - the people who liked her before the show. She knows that a lot of the people calling round now are not being genuine.’
Vicky was not alone in feeling some concern, but although people’s fears were to prove well grounded, plenty of well-wishers were keen to point out that Susan had had a difficult life to date and that this, no matter what problems might come in its wake, was a way to a happier life. Catherine Hunter, a neighbour who has known Susan since childhood, was one of them. ‘It had been Susan’s dream to try out for Britain’s Got Talent,’ she told the Daily Express. ‘She used to watch it with her mum Bridget, whom she lived with and cared for until she died two years ago at the age of ninety-one.
‘They used to watch the show and her mum encouraged her to go on it. But after she died Susan stopped singing and became very depressed. This has really helped her confidence. Her mother and father, who died some time ago, would be proud. We all are. Last Saturday night the whole street turned out to wish her well after the programme ended. All the doors opened and everyone piled out shouting congratulations to her.’
Another lifelong friend, Elain Clarke, was more concerned. ‘Susan is shy around people she doesn’t know until she sings - and then she loves an audience, ’ she said. ‘She is well known in the village for her beautiful voice and sings regularly at the pub. She sings all the time, and when she has the windows open we can hear her all over the street. When we have barbecues in the summer she goes from garden to garden singing. She’s safe here in this village but she needs to be properly managed with all this success. I hope she’s looked after.’ It was a concern that was to raise its head again and again.
While some people around Susan might not have been genuine, the excitement surrounding her was palpable. The clip of her audition on YouTube was getting millions of hits, as the story of this slightly dowdy woman with the extraordinary voice spread across the world. Susan continued to protest that she wouldn’t change her appearance, or indeed anything else, and that it was her singing that was important. Amanda Holden joined in, urging Susan not to change. Everyone had a view on some aspect of Susan’s life and everyone wanted to contribute to the debate. But the juggernaut that had roared into action was now going too fast for Susan, or anyone else, to control.
Since her first appearance, it had been established that her father was a soldier and that she was one of nine children, who were all thrilled for their sister, if a little concerned that her success might get out of hand.
Her brother John said, ‘The reaction Susan is getting is just amazing. She is long overdue this recognition. ’ And it was thrilling, not least because Susan herself was so totally overwhelmed by what was happening. The title of the song she sang to get her into her current position couldn’t have been more apposite. She’d dreamed a dream, all right - and now it seemed that dream was coming true.
In interviews, Susan had very publicly made it known that she was a virgin, and now men were letting it be known that they’d be happy to do something about this if she so wished. ‘I’m flattered and delighted by the attention,’ said Susan, wisely leaving it at that.
It was now that the term ‘Hairy Angel’ was coined, a description that Susan was none too keen on and which might have played a part in persuading her to get a makeover. The YouTube footage of her interview continued to astound: within five days of the performance, it had had 20 million hits, six times more than that achieved by Britney Spears.
It wasn’t just Larry King who had lured Susan on to his show either. At home in Blackburn television crews from all over the world were seen arriving to interview her. Diane Sawyer, another of America’s top presenters, had her on as a guest, and so did almost everyone, and those that didn’t were still aware of who she was and what she’d done. In a sign of America’s growing fascination with Susan, Jay Leno, another hugely popular talk show host, dressed up as her in a gold dress and wig. ‘My mother was Scottish, she came from the same part of Scotland and I think we are related,’ he told his cheering audience. ‘When you saw her sing, did you see any resemblance? ’
Susan somehow managed to enjoy it and have a good time. ‘I can’t believe how lucky I am,’ she told the Daily Express. ‘Keep them coming is what I say. I’m amazed that these TV stations from all over the world have come to see me. I haven’t taken it in completely and most mornings I wake up with a smile on my face because I can’t believe it has happened. It’s overwhelming and I am enjoying it but I’m keeping my feet firmly on the ground.’
Everyone wanted a piece of her. Russell Brand, that noted lothario, quipped, ‘Susan has pledged to lose her virginity to the winner of a breakdancing showdown between me and her eyebrow. I must win!’
Piers Morgan chipped in, ‘Susan, if you’re listening - I’m available! I’ve decided to extend an invitation to Susan to take her for a meal at a romantic restaurant. Maybe some roses, fine wine, glamorous waiters and the chance to break her kissing duck with me.’
Was that going too far? Piers was, and remains, one of Susan’s most stalwart supporters, but it’s possible he, like everyone else, was getting carried away with the moment. Certainly, concerns were mounting in some quarters that even a robust individual would have trouble coping with this level of attention, let alone someone as vulnerable as Susan. Despite the fact that Susan’s learning disabilities were well known, the full extent of her fragility had not become evident. In a matter of days, Susan had gone from being completely unknown to one of the most famous people on the planet. Her family stepped in, rallied round and, for a while, Susan went into hiding to give everyone a chance to calm down and get back to normal. But however much she hid away, there was no denying that her life had changed beyond all recognition - and in only a week.
Desperately Seeking Susan
Susan Boyle was an absolu
te sensation, there was no doubt about that. Some cynics had thought that after the initial flurry of interest the nation would forget all about her, as had happened to so many reality TV stars before her, but quite the opposite appeared to be true. The public’s fascination with Susan grew and grew, and not just among people who liked musical theatre, either. The young, cool and trendy were as taken with this Scottish lady of a certain age as anyone else, and nowhere was this exemplified more than by the now famous tweets from Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher.
‘This just made my night,’ tweeted Ashton.
‘You saw it made me teary,’ Demi replied. Meanwhile, fresh from making jokes about her, Russell Brand popped up again, this time on a surprisingly serious note. ‘I just watched Susan Boyle for the first time and it’s very moving to see latent talent realized,’ he wrote. If ever there was an indication of the impact Susan had made on the nation, it was that. It’s impossible to think of two more disparate characters than Russell Brand and Susan Boyle, and yet she’d won him over, too.
Susan herself stayed out of the picture. Wisely, she allowed the furore to rage on whilst she got used to the fact that, having been plucked from total obscurity, she had become one of the most famous people on earth. And although none of this had been planned - even Simon Cowell would have had a problem choreographing this one - the way events panned out only served to fuel the interest in her.
While ducking out of sight came out of necessity rather than calculation, the truth is that you always want what you can’t have, and the public wanted Susan. And when they couldn’t have her, they wanted her even more. Susan wasn’t due to reappear on the show until the following month, which in turn allowed expectation, interest and anticipation to build around her. All the while details about Susan’s life continued to emerge in dribs and drabs, as reporters besieged the village of Blackburn, desperate to find out anything they could about her. The picture that emerged was of a good woman, who had suffered both as a child and more recently. The death of her mother had affected her badly, on top of which, a yob element in the village had occasionally made life even more difficult for her.
Susan Boyle Page 3