Susan Boyle (4 page)

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.

Susan Boyle was an absolute 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.