Losing 'probably a good thing' for Boyle

It was “probably a good thing” that Susan Boyle lost the final of 'Britain’s Got Talent', judge Piers Morgan said tonight.

The 48-year-old from Blackburn, west Lothian, missed out in Saturday’s show to street dance act Diversity.

Producers became concerned about her after the show on Saturday night when she reportedly began acting strangely.

Last night Miss Boyle was taken from her central London hotel to the Priory clinic, in north London, after doctors were consulted.

Her brother Gerry said she had suffered an anxiety attack, and Morgan said he was glad she would now have the time to rest and recover after weeks of intense media scrutiny.

Morgan said Boyle’s dream had always been to win a recording contract rather than win the show and he was confident she would achieve that.

“Probably it’s a good thing all round that Susan actually didn’t win, and has a chance now to be slightly under the radar for a while and let Diversity bask in the glory of their great triumph,” he told Sky News.

“I would hate their glory today to be overshadowed by what is a sad thing for Susan but not a very serious matter – she’s just exhausted and needs some rest.”

Police were called to Boyle’s hotel after she began acting strangely following her unexpected defeat, and she was taken to the Priory after being assessed under the Mental Health Act.

Reports claimed that she shouted backstage “I hate this show” and threw a glass of water at a member of staff who tried to calm her.

TalkbackThames, which produces Britain’s Got Talent, said Boyle was “exhausted and emotionally drained” and was being offered “ongoing support”.

Ashley Banjo, Diversity’s leader and choreographer, said Boyle had been very gracious in defeat, congratulating the group and joking with them backstage, and he expressed sympathy for her situation.

“I feel for her because she had a lot of hype around her and she didn’t ask for it,” he told ITV’s 'This Morning'.

“She’s going to have a great career anyway, and I wish her well in whatever she does. She’s a really nice lady.”

Diversity took 24.9% of the public vote in the final, above Boyle’s 20.2% share. The contestant in third place, saxophonist Julian Smith, gained 16.4% of the vote.

Just under four million people voted, ITV said.