UPDATE thesun.co.uk
BRITAIN'S Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle was in the Priory clinic last night suffering from exhaustion.
The singer, dubbed SuBo, had an "emotional breakdown" following Saturday's final in which she was runner-up, but the talent show favourite was still eyeing a mega United States tour.
The 48-year-old virgin, tipped to earn $8MILLION, survived tears and a tantrum to finish second in Saturday's gripping final of telly's Britain's Got Talent.
But the pressure finally told late yesterday as the Scots singer - dubbed SuBo by fans - was rushed to the private clinic suffering from exhaustion. Show aides had contacted police to say she was acting strangely at her London hotel.
Paramedics helped the "spaced-out" star through the lobby and into an ambulance just after 6pm.
A Met Police Inspector and a police doctor were called to assist. The ambulance, tailed by a police car, then took her to the Priory in Southgate, North London.
A source at the hotel said last night: "She'd been at the hotel for a few days, but since Saturday's final had been acting strangely, causing a bit of a stir.
"The staff were concerned - something wasn't right.
"When the paramedics and police arrived she agreed to go voluntarily. She didn't make a fuss. The paramedics calmly took her out through the main lobby and into the waiting ambulance.
"It was all done very calmly. They didn't want to stress or upset her. She didn't look well - she looked lost, not all there."
A source at the clinic said last night: "I was having a cigarette break when a whole load of ambulances arrived.
"Everyone was saying, 'Who's that'? Then I saw her and it was Susan Boyle. I was gobsmacked."
The singer, from Blackburn in West Lothian, has learning difficulties. The specialist clinic has 52 bedrooms and specialises in the treatment of mental health.
A Britain's Got Talent spokeswoman said last night: "Following Saturday's show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained.
"She has been seen by her private GP, who supports her decision to take a few days out for rest and recovery. We offer her our ongoing support and wish her a speedy recovery."
A show source said: "It's very tough, Susan is emotionally drained - she gave it her all and is absolutely shattered.
"Simon Cowell spoke to her backstage on Saturday night and told her she had everything going for her - a record deal, an American tour. But it's up to her, she has to see what she wants.
"We do realise that we have a care of duty to look after her."
Favourite Susan, beaten by dance act Diversity, faced a backlash last week when she was ushered from her previous hotel by worried show bosses after a rant in a bar.
She was also spoken to by cops after arguing with her sister. And The Sun can reveal the brave singer fled the final stage in tears after belting out I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables, the song that made her famous. She had been booed by sections of the audience after show judge Piers Morgan made her his tip to win. After leaving the spotlight, Susan sank into the arms of producers and buried her head in her hands before starting to cry.
Earlier, she had launched into a furious four-letter outburst when told her glittering stage costume had failed to arrive just 15 minutes before she was due to appear on stage.
The singer was made a floor-length silver gown for the event, but a source said: "I was in the dressing room when she came in with some production staff. She looked like she was about to explode and was swearing.
"Susan was wearing a red robe, and a girl from production was trying to calm her down by saying, 'Your dress will be here any moment'.
"That was what set her off. It was 15 minutes before the show, and she didn't have her dress. I guess that could push anyone over the edge. They ushered her into a room, but we could still hear her swearing like a trooper."
Yet Chiefs at SyCo - Cowell's division of Sony BMG - have big plans for Susan.
They are this week set to take her to America, where she is already a huge star and is due to score a Sony record deal.
Offers have been coming in thick and fast for the BGT phenomenon. A string of US shows have been trying to lure SuBo as a guest and to get her to sing.
Experts reckon she could make up to $8million after selling the rights to her fairytale life story, as well as a book deal, record cash and further millions from image rights, product endorsements and TV appearances.
A Sony source said: "Susan is going to be huge - it doesn't matter in the slightest that she didn't win.
"We're going to look after her. Never mind the States, she's had offers from round the world." TV Simon said: "We've never had a runner-up like Susan before. She won over a lot of fans - not just with her voice, but with her graciousness. She's got a massive future."
Proud neighbours in Susan's Scottish home town were last night preparing to give her a hero's welcome - unaware of her admission to the Priory.
Brian Smith, 51, said: "I thought she was a certainty to win.
"She has put Blackburn on the map and is a winner to us.
"We are keeping up all the bunting and banners up until she gets back.
"I think we will throw her a massive party - she deserves it."
Michelle McCabe, 34, said: "I thought she would win hands down. She can come back with her head held high."
LONDON, England (CNN) -- She may have finished second, but Susan Boyle continued to make newspaper headlines in the UK Sunday following her shock defeat in the final of "Britain's Got Talent."
"Boyle Backlash" said the headline in the tabloid News of the World, suggesting that the Scottish 48-year-old's alleged "four-letter tantrum" earlier this week had influenced millions of viewers to switch their votes to dance act Diversity.
The buildup to Saturday night's live final had been dominated by reports that Boyle lost her temper in a London hotel and had even considered pulling out of the talent show finale.
The Mail on Sunday said she had been been "comforted by psychiatrists" ahead of Saturday's final.
"They have a whole army of doctors, psychiatrists and experts all available to any contestant at any time. They have all been taking great care of Susan," the paper quoted "Britain's Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan as saying. Video Watch how Boyle's rise to fame has been an emotional ride »
In Scotland, where crowds had gathered in Boyle's hometown of Blackburn in anticipation of victory, celebration parties were stopped in their tracks as the unexpected result was announced.
"Boyle foiled in final: Susan's dream is over," said the headline in the Sunday Mail.
Earlier, the paper said, Blackburn's community center had been "a sea of hands" as Boyle performed her signature tune, "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables."
"They stood with tears in their eyes as Susan hit every note. Stamping and chanting her name, her fellow villagers could not have been more proud." Video Watch the dramatic end to Susan Boyle's dream »
But "the cheers were caught in the collective gullet ... as dance troupe Diversity gatecrashed this most expectant of parties," the Sunday Herald reported. "Jaws were left agape. Tears were shed. And then the supportive chanting of 'SuBo' began again."
Boyle could still be the real winner from the series, which became a global hit after clips of her audition of "I Dreamed a Dream" racked up millions of hits on YouTube.
"£6M superstar" said the Sunday Mirror, claiming that "Britain's Got Talent" impresario Simon Cowell plans to take Boyle across the Atlantic to "conquer the U.S."
The News of the World upped Boyle's likely earnings on the back of "Britain's Got Talent" to £8 million ($13 million).
On top of a multi-million dollar record deal and share of album sales, Boyle is also set to earn from a Hollywood movie of her rags-to-riches life, a book deal, and millions more from image rights, endorsements and television appearances, the paper said.
In an interview with the News of the World, Cowell said Boyle could be the biggest star he had ever discovered.
"They don't care in America whether she wins a British TV show -- they care about the woman they saw singing on YouTube," a Cowell insider also told the paper. "If anything, £8 million in her first year might be an underestimate."
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Meanwhile, competition winners Diversity are also set to cash in on their success with a film deal and a possible slot supporting Michael Jackson when the superstar plays a series of shows in London next month, the Sunday Mirror said. The group collected £100,000 ($162,000) for winning the final and will perform in front of Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Show later this year.
"We feel electric. Words can't describe it. I'm genuinely shocked. We thought Susan was unstoppable -- she's an unbelievable talent," the paper quoted the group's choreographer, Ashley Banjo, as saying.
