It's not often that overnight a performer captures the hearts of not just the nation but the entire globe. But that's exactly what conservatively dressed, middle-aged Susan Boyle has done.
Less than two weeks after her Britain's Got Talent audition was uploaded to YouTube, it has been viewed over a 100 million times - which makes the 18 million hits received by President Barack Obama's acceptance speech pall to insignificance in comparison.
The extraordinary-voiced Scot, whose rendition of I Dreamed A Dream earned her A-list celebrity followers, including Demi Moore and husband Ashton Kutcher, looks set to storm into the record books by passing the 120 million mark in a matter of days.
The current record is held by a montage of popular dances by comedian Judson Laipply, which has received 118 million views since it was uploaded in April 2006.
At her audition the 47-year-old church volunteer had pointed to West End star Elaine Paige as her idol. It was a tribute which did not go unnoticed. Speaking on her BBC radio show Elaine described the singer as "a role model for everyone who had a dream".
"Ever since Susan's appearance on Britain's Got Talent my in-box has been flooded with e-mails," the 61-year-old mezzo-soprano told her Sunday afternoon listeners. "Perhaps we should record a duet?"
"I will continue to watch and I hope you make it to the final," Elaine added to Susan.
Photo: ITV
Photo: Getty Images
