Susan Boyle

A frumpy middle-aged woman who astonished judges on a television talent quest with her extraordinary voice is taking the internet world by storm.More than 16 million people have now logged on to YouTube to watch Susan Boyle silence a sniggering audience on the show Britain's Got Talent.And that figure is climbing rapidly by the hour as the story of this unlikely Scottish star spreads across the world.

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Susan Boyle, the accidental superstarThe 48-year-old charity worker drew snide laughs from the crowd when she walked on stage at the auditions wearing a gold lace dress and looking, as she put it, "like a garage".She proceeded to tell the judges that she had "never been kissed", which drew laughs and embarrassed looks from some in the crowd.But her goosebump-raising performance of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables silenced her critics and earned her a standing ovation from the dumfounded audience.Miss Boyle hopes her television debut will remind people not to judge by appearances - and her performance certainly seems to be inspiring online viewers."Can't stop crying.....Human spirit..... in the flesh......... Susan Boyle," one person posted on YouTube."I truly, truly am inspired by her courage and talent. What an incredible, incredible moment! This teaches so much about human natures and how shallow we all are," wrote another.Another said: "The human face of this little lady from nowhere. Singing her heart out - its should touch us all."Miss Boyle, who does charity work for her local church in Bathgate, West Lothian, said she lived alone with her cat, Pebbles, and told the television audience she had "never been married, never been kissed"."I'm trying to be a professional singer. I've never been given the chance before," she said.Judge Simon Cowell pronounced her voice "extraordinary", while fellow judge Piers Morgan said the performance was "without a doubt the biggest surprise I have had in three years of this show".

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Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle is an internet hit

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