'I hate this show', Susan Boyle screams before going to rehab

"Distraught": Susan Boyle leaving the Wembley studio on Saturday

Her admission to the celebrity clinic followed her "meltdown" on Saturday night after nearly 20m viewers saw her lose to Essex dance troupe Diversity.

Despite appearing calm on stage, as soon as the 48-year-old Scottish spinster arrived back in her dressing room she reportedly shouted: "I hate this show. I hate it!"

Miss Boyle was said to have burst out of her dressing room and run along the corridor with only her bra on her top half, yelling four-letter abuse at production staff. She also reportedly threw a cup of water over a floor manager and staff tried to restrain her. Then, at 6pm last night, an ambulance was called by staff at the Crowne Plaza hotel in St James's.

Doctors assessed Miss Boyle under the Mental Health Act and she voluntarily went to the Priory, in Southgate, at the request of doctors and police officers, who were also called to the hotel.

One guest said: "Everybody was watching from their windows and craning for a view of Susan as she left. Everyone I spoke to commented on how calm and dignified she was." Employees at the four-star hotel have been told by bosses to stay silent about last night's dramatic scenes. One staff member said: "We've been told not to say anything because it is a private and confidential matter."

But a show insider said of Miss Boyle: "Losing just got to her. What she has failed to grasp is, it doesn't matter that she didn't win. She's going to get an album deal and be a huge star."

A statement from talkbackThames said: "Following Saturday night's show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained. She has been seen by her private GP who supports her decision to take a few days out for rest and recovery. We offer her our ongoing support and wish her a speedy recovery."

The tables turned on Miss Boyle during Saturday's ITV1 final after she performed her signature song, I Dreamed A Dream. Some of the audience booed her and viewers looked on in amazement afterwards as she pulled up her skirt to her thigh and made a chopping s ign af ter judges commented on her performance.

Her family revealed that despite her " gracious" behaviour in saluting Diversity as worthy winners, she was "devastated" and "distraught".

Piers Morgan, one of the show's judges, told GMTV today she was in "a state" all last week. He added: "She is getting away from everyone. She needs time to sleep and eat and do the things that she found rather difficult last week."

Publicist Max Clifford said today: "What's happened has never happened before - Susan's gone from total obscurity to worldwide fame in seconds, and that's a huge adjustment for anyone.

"She had a lot of negative press last week and is clearly very sensitive." He added that things "became too much for her" and she was taking a rest. Mr Clifford went on: "She wanted this and is mostly enjoying it. But at the moment she needs friends around her that have been her friends for a long time, and people that can take care of her."

Friends said recently that Miss Boyle yearns for her old life back, living with her cat Pebbles in her council flat in Blackburn, West Lothian.

She is tipped to earn £10m from a deal with Britain's Got Talent creator Simon Cowell's Sony BMG label, tours in America and selling the rights to her story. But Cowell, who said she had a "massive future", faced criticism for putting the singer, who has learning difficulties, under such huge stress.

In the next few days, Miss Boyle will prepare for the BGT nationwide tour, earning £500 a night before tax and agents' fees. She also will be flown to the Czech Republic for three days to record her first album.

Mr Clifford said all Cowell wanted was the best for Miss Boyle. "Simon's attitude is very simple," he said. "This isn't about him, but Susan Boyle."