Can I be a cynic and say that I reckon the producers saw her before that performance and deliberately went out of their way to make her look as unflattering as possible. Her clothes were particularly old fashioned, even for a 47 year old... and the way she went out and swaggered- seemed a bit "tutored" to me... like she's been coached. Surely a complete novice wouldve been generally more nervous doncha think??

(Not that Im suggesting the JUDGES had seen her before... just the producers had...)

A rather patroninsing lesson in "not judging by appearances" there....

What if the producers saw her like that, thought she was going to be sh*t, turned out to be quite good so sent her on to surprise them?

Yes, Im sure thats the case, and Im also sure that Susan knew she was gonna absolutely blow them away. Id also hazard a guess that the producers "encouraged" her to not look at her best, to magnify the effect of "deluded nutter" that we were all expecting...

How I love being patroninsed by ITV...

wrong thread lol.

I can't see any woman allowing herself to be "dressed down" and made to look frumpy by any TV producers!!

Actually, Susan Boyle is from Blackburn, which is near Bathgate. Just a mile or two from where Leon Jackson used to live.

Can't help feeling a bit uneasy about presenting a woman with learning difficulties to be laughed at and then to 'surprise' everyone. Why shouldn't she be able to sing? Feels like exploitation to me and makes me feel a bit icky (even if it did make Susan happy at the time).

but Susan is also showing that she can be her own woman which makes a big difference. She shut them all up not just with her voice but with her attitude as well and she deserves every bit of success coming her way. I didn't feel she was being exploited here at all. She got the last word and brought shame on those who doubted and laughed...

And she's good enough to win the whole thing so why shouldn't she be put through by the producers just because she has learning difficulties? It would have been so easy to apply the reverse psychology here. That's why Susan's story is so compelling. She's such an inspiration to many people out there who suffer discrimination on account of their looks or disabilities.

Just in case you doubted her strength of character:

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_head...name_page.html

(thanks for posting on the other thread, Sunday Sun!)

There's no reason why she shouldn't be put through and there's no reason why she shouldn't win if enough people think she is good enough (I don't, although I certainly think she is good enough to go through to the next stage). That doesn't stop me feeling uncomfortable about what I see as exploitation. She was being set up to be laughed at and I didn't like it (even though I do understand your viewpoint).

Susan's learning difficulties did not hold her back from singing very well and remembering all the words to her song. She had a quick wit and a sense of humour. I liked her and I hope she does very well in the future.

Exactly. Why was everyone so all-fired astonished that she could sing? Why were we all encouraged to be astonished? Why shouldn't a woman with learning difficulties be able to sing? Many people with learning difficulties have a particular talent or ability, whether it be singing, baking, painting, or whatever. I feel the producers milked this situation for their own ends. It was both cynical and patronizing.

Her learning difficulties were never mentioned on the show nor were they apparent - this came out in later newspaper articles. Although she apparently suffered mild brain damage at birth, it seems to have only affected her academic potential, she came across as a lovely, witty and eloquent woman, although a little socially awkward and occasionally embarrassing in the situation, as are many when they go on stage. I thought she looked perfectly normal for an almost 50 year old who probably doesn't get out much and I assume has little money. She was well dressed and had clearly had made a lot of efffort for the occasion. Perhaps a darker colour would have been better, but apart from that she looked fine to me.

So I don't see it as exploitation - exploitation would have been if she really couldn't sing and the producers had put her through for everyone to laugh at, as is often the case on X Factor. The judges were probably not told of her talent to capture the genuine surprise. The audience was ignorant but she knew what she could do and that she would have the last laugh, her smile before she sang said it all. She clearly has a very supportive family and a very large one at that.

I don't think it was necessarily that no-one expected her to be able to sing at all - many did seem to laugh at her but that could be editing - maybe it was the exceptional talent and performance that took everyone by surprise - and it seems the world by storm. She has well over 2.5 million youtube hits with wonderful comments from all over the world, she has only positive comments on Perez Hilton which must be a first, she is in the American, German and Australian press to probably name only a few. International journalists want to talk to her. A record contract seems certain.

So it seems the few minutes of possible ridicule will have been more than worth it for her, although I am not sure how much was edited in. From what I have read on youtube and other comments, there is a lot of admiration for her now. The vast majority talk only about her voice and how much she moved them. Her appearance is irrelevant - not that I see anything wrong with it, I see people like that every single day, she looks perfectly normal and looks like a very nice person.

Until I read this thread a moment ago, I didn't know she had learning difficulties. When I saw her on the show, she displayed a quick wit, a nice personality & a fantastic voice. That's what matters - anything else she needs, they'll give her or she'll get along the way. I very much doubt that her learning difficulties will stand in the way of that - no-one seems to be focussing on them, which is the way it should be.

Absolutely! spot on Robin!

I've watched the vid again, and again, and again.....

Forget her past! here and now is what matters.

With that performance she's proved herself a wonderful Human being and a talented vocalist.

Susan may come across as oddball and awkward but if the stories of her past are to be believed it's no wonder.

On the stage her deportment, grace and beauty were evident.

I cannot wait for her next appearance on BGT.