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ITV chiefs face inquiry over Boyle breakdown
1 Jun 2009
The producers of Britain's Got Talent were facing an inquiry today over their treatment of finalist Susan Boyle.
The Scottish singer was admitted to the Priory clinic last night after suffering an emotional breakdown.
Boyle, 48, finished second in Saturday's final but the show's producers have been criticised for not withdrawing her from the contest after it emerged she hadn't been eating or sleeping properly for a week.
Media regulator Ofcom today confirmed it was considering launching an investigation into the ITV programme after receiving “a large number of complaints” from viewers.
A source from the watchdog said: “There are complaints about Susan Boyle being allowed to perform in the final. We are not investigating at this stage.” Viewers also made allegations of vote-rigging and complained about the treatment of child contestants.
Piers Morgan, one of the judges, said the church volunteer from Blackburn, West Lothian, had been in “a state” all last week. He said today: “She's receiving the best care possible. She has just gone away to have some time to herself and to sleep and eat, all the things she hasn't been able to do.”
Boyle had reportedly run down the corridor of TV studios on Saturday night shouting “I hate this show” after she came second to Essex dance troupe Diversity in the final. She also allegedly threw water over a floor manager who tried to calm her down.
She began behaving so oddly at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Westminster last night that a team assigned to accompany her alerted a GP, who took the decision she should be admitted to a hospital. Police then escorted her to the Priory.
Fred O'Neil, Boyle's friend and former voice coach, said today: “It's tragic, a woman who really just loves to sing, an innocent woman really. I hope whatever fame she has got out of this will bring her some happiness. Obviously at the present time it is not.”
Boyle has faced pressure since her first performance was watched by millions on YouTube and she became an overnight celebrity. There were signs last week that she was struggling to cope. David Wilson, professor of criminology at Birmingham City University, had appealed for the producers to withdraw her from the final. He said: “Her long-term psychological needs must be accommodated.”
Boyle is set to sign a multi-million-pound deal with Simon Cowell and experts say she could make £8 million.
Reader views (12)
American POP stars are in and out of rehabs on a monthly basis so why should this story about Susan be unique? I hope she can pull herself together quickly, get out on the tour, come to America, record an album and make millions of dollars--that will fix her critics! Come on, Susan, get your act together and take it on the road--be a trooper! Britany Spears and Lindsey Lohan have breakdowns regularly and still manage to perform. You can do it, girl! Come on, I think Piers has a crush on you and you have to rise to the occasion. I'm betting on you.
- Al Reasor, San Diego, USA, 02/06/2009 03:22
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Diversity were ok, but they'll do their show before HM, then that'll be it. On the other hand, if Susan survives the pressure she can go on to bring out albums, do shows, tours etc. All to make Sony BMG or whoever and the little Cowell man (and we all know what he really likes ...) lots of money.
- Crystalclear, london, 01/06/2009 23:17
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That's a nice remark putting Susan in the same category as Amy Winehouse. Don't think Susan is even close to as crazy. Amy's probably been in the Priory a few times in her young life.
- Ane, Fl orida USA, 01/06/2009 22:21
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M.Doyle of Nevada USA: your comment is extremely nasty, cruel, ill-mannered and totally out-of-order. You display a profound ignorance of the background and mindset of Susan Boyle. I do agree with other writers that there has been manipulation of the emotionally-sensitive Susan Boyle, but apparently she made the decision to sing in the final. It was reported she had become very upset after one judge, Piers Morgan, some time back, made the remark that another contestant was the best singer in the show.
- Frank Warrington, The North, 01/06/2009 22:14
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A win-win situation.
Bookies are quids in, mass publicity for the show, talking heads debate it in the Media pontificating, keeps them in fresh material...
Susan hopefully will recover, the 'right-on' PC dance group 'won'. Oh, does anyone know that they won?
Those in the know maybe earned a few quid hearing rumours around the set about who'd win. Hey, 'Vote-TV' has been rigged before.
Oh..? the Public..? (laughs like Sid James)... what about 'em..? Ha ha ha, chalk it up to exes... See ya next year ha ha ha
- Paul, Bromley, 01/06/2009 20:10
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hey m.doyle, do you know amy winehouse? I think susan boyle is great. oh yeah, what would madonna do if she were told that her dress wasnt ready, five minutes before her performance. EXPLODE. Eminem has a temper and andew lloyd webber is one heck of a prima donna. they have publicists. they get away with it.
- Bren, toronto, canada, 01/06/2009 19:19
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What? Are you on drugs now? She had a breakdown because of pressure and the likes. Not because of drugs and alcohol. I hope you got a good laugh out of your comment, because it was truly disgusting. This poor woman was pressed and pressed until she could not go anymore. When you become one of the most famous people on the planet in a matter of a few hours, then come back here and make a comment on how well you take it.
- Jason, Buffalo, New York, 01/06/2009 19:16
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Its called being nervous and OFCOM far have better things to be doing with their time than investigating this, whats next, investigating performers that throw up before going on stage? Give me a break!
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London UK, 01/06/2009 18:43
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The winners reflect an astonishing degree of PC thought control out there. Hard to believe the vote wasn't rigged, strange its been done before on UK TV to suit "Political" purposes. Disgusting.
- James Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove, NY, 01/06/2009 18:32
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Lets hope other people do not make unkind remarks about her!~~She obviously has much talent but does not have the toughness nor even the emotional support to back her up when all of a sudden she has been thrust into the ''limelight'',It seems that she only has a cat at home to comfort her!!!!Let's hope that she recovers quickly & that she has the strength & the courage to continue ~~~ANNNDDD some HONEST PEOPLE to handle her buisness affairs would be nice!As there will be a lot of folk hoping for a piece of her pie!~~~~~BE GENTLE WITH HER & WISH HER THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE! GOOD LUCK SUSAN BOYLE BOYLE!!!
- Cynthia Watson, Comox b.c. CANADA, 01/06/2009 18:12
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I have been watching and analyzing the manipulation of both the performers & the mob in the studio. To dangle a Royal Performance prize before emotionally vulnarable individuals of variying ages is a sham of the lowest degree. It was apparent how the semi-final would end and also the final which was aimed at the wider market of younger viewers with Susan appealing to the older market. Cowell and the producers are to blame for what is akin to mental cruelty to those unprepaared for such a spotlight.
- Jon, London, 01/06/2009 17:27
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Maybe Susan and Amy Winehouse should team up?
- M. Doyle, Nevada USA, 01/06/2009 16:48
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