Susan Boyle

When a plain, unsophisticated middle-aged spinster, who had been the butt of jokes all her life, walked onto a stage and stunned the audience of Britain's Got Talent, her life changed forever. How can a 48 year old woman, who had been living a quiet life with her beloved cat and looking after her elderly mother for most of her life, possibly cope with being a celebrity. Now, after years of being ignored and laughed at, suddenly everyone wants to be her friend.

Susan was born in Scotland to Patrick Boyle, miner and World War II veteran and also a singer and her mother Bridget, a shorthand typist. Both migrated from county Donegal in Ireland. Her mother was 47 when Susan was born and she was briefly deprived of oxygen which resulted in learning difficulties.

Susan spoke about her battle with depression, blaming it on being bullied all her school life and admits she suffers from bouts of anger and depression and wild mood swings because of it. "I know I am taking a big chance telling people this, but I have to be honest. I used to be made a fool of at school" she said. I can remember seeing Sharon Osborne, Ossie's wife on a tv clip where she said "And there was Susan, looking like a slapped arse" and everyone fell about laughing.

The press said she had a tantrum at British Airways VIP lounge at Heathrow on her way to America. She started to dance and sing with a mop in front of her other first-class passengers waiting to board.

She has three managers, Andy Stephens, who used to work with George Michael, U2's former accountant Ossie Kilkenny and one of her nieces Kirsty who she says are all pulling her in different directions.

Susan says she has no plans to move from her council house in Blackburn because her beloved cat Pebbles would hate to live somewhere "posh".