Susan Boyle is apparently suffering from the strain of fame and according to some has packed her bags and is ready to quit Britain’s Got Talent. Hardly surprising really given that she was unknown only a few weeks ago and has been catapulted into stardom more or less overnight !
She had found recent criticism hard to take, Piers Morgan said “I’ve been told she’s been in floods of tears.
“Yesterday she was actually going to leave the show, packed her bags to go because she couldn’t see the point in going on if all she was going to get was all this sniping.”
He added: “I think there’s a lot of cynicism building up about Susan, a lot of unnecessary criticism about her. She’s just two days away from the biggest show of her life, the biggest moment of her life, and we should give her a break.”
TV chiefs are apparently also considered pulling Susan from tomorrow night’s live final due to fears that the pressure may be actually be harming her.
She is said to have gone into hiding yesterday after incidents which gave concern for her health. Susan, was born with minor brain damage and suffered from learning difficulties, and it has been said she is staying with friends in order to take things easy.
ITV officials say they will obtain medical advice to make sure she is able to cope with the live final.
There have apparently been bitter clashes between TV executives and producers.
The series is a ratings blockbuster thanks to Susan Boyle and gets over 15 million viewers.
An ITV source said: “If it is felt that she is too vulnerable to perform, she will be withdrawn from the show.”
Susan also apparently has made four-letter public outbursts this week and V-signs at Piers Morgan.
“Simon Cowell and Co aren’t happy but there is a much bigger picture here. If anything was to happen to Susan live on air it would be ITV that got the blame. Her well-being is the absolute priority.”
ITV has “a duty of care” to anyone appearing on the channel and Section 2.3 of Ofcom’s broadcasting code states that broadcast material including “humiliation, distress and violation of human dignity” must be justified in context.
If Susan Boyle or a member of the public were to complain after the final ITV could be prosecuted.
Her brother John said: "Susan is finding it very difficult at the moment. She has become a global sensation and is finding that she doesn't have any of the protection and support that big stars normally do. She is just a normal woman from a small village in Scotland, who all of a sudden is being forced to cope with this on her own."
One reality show expert said Susan Boyle was "clearly not prepared" for celebrity and could crack under the pressure. According to another show's effects might be "very damaging" for someone in her position.
Dr Linda Papadopoulos admitted people are concerned the experience may be damaging the singer. She said: "Somebody who is unprepared for this type of celebrity will find it hugely difficult to deal with. Part of being a celebrity is trying to control your emotions rather than your emotions controlling you and I don't know how capable she will be of doing that."
Miss Boyle has been coming in for some criticism lately for exmaple from Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood who said that Miss Boyle "sucks" and criticised her singing.
Publicist Max Clifford said "She's not dealing at all well with this situation. The dream that everyone first bought into, that she was a sweet lady devoted to her mother, is quickly fading."
Bookmakers still have Susan Boyle as favourite but her odds have lengthened.
A record 15.4 million people tuned in to watch Monday’s show.
So all in all a very strange state of affairs, there are some cynical journalists who claim it is all part of the publicity hype, as Susan Boyle is a such a hot favourite to win the show.
