Oh dear. That Susan from BGT has - apparently - been detained under the mental health act

[HecatesTwopenceworth]

just watching the news atm.

Will she still be flavour of the month? The press seem to be portraying her as a raving lunatic now. Not likely to endear her to the Sun reading masses is it?

Why would OFCOM investigate?

I think she may still well do an album and we will still hear of her but she's gone from nothing to the most talked about person in the world in 7 days. She was expected to win on Saturday and hasn't been eating or sleeping with all of the stress.

May be a good rest and slowind down for a bit with some good guidance from possibly someone like Max Clifford will mean she can get her dream of becoming a professional singer. Good luck to her.

Just looked on the bbc news site and part of the report said 'Prime Minister Gordon Brown told GMTV that he had spoken to Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan to check on Boyle's progress.'

Er..why? The Prime Minister?!

I mean I wish the poor woman well and all that but this is ridiculous

Oh, that's just trying to get brownie points. TBH, that's using her as well! He doesn't care about her! He wants voters to think oh what a nice guy to care about that woman, maybe I will vote for them after all.

I hate it when politics get involved too - like when Gordon Brown felt obliged to pay tribute to Jade Goody - bonkers.

They have exploited someone with LDs for the entertainment value, should be investigated and stopped from happening again imo.

Yes agree re brownie points (or should that be Gordon Brownie Points )

It's not as if they haven't got other things to see to just now - or maybe it's a good deflection of attention. Cos we'd all fall for that one obviously .

Lol at Gordon Brown.

Almost as bad as when Blair called for the release of Deirdre Rashid on Corrie.

Rofl I'd forgotton about the Wetherfield One.

Kingrolo - but wouldn't that lead to people with LD not being allowed on TV at all? Is that in anybody's interest?

Jade Goody....? Remind me who she was again? It must be...oh, 5 weeks since she died - peopel's memories aren't that long!
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I think its naive to think that Susan Boyle's appearance on BGT is advancing the status of those with LD on tv.

But if OFCOM investigate, as Kingrolo is suggesting, and it results in BGT being chastised then no other TV show would touch a LD person.

I can't see how there's a case to answer though, because the bottom line is that she entered of her own free will

All I can say is thank christ and all his angels in heaven that I didn't watch BGT.

All the raising up and knocking down of Susan Boyle is vile, and also the exploitation of young children (see various other threads).

I was listening to Chris Moyles this morning (yeah, I know) and the way they were speaking about Susan Boyle being detained under the mental health act was extraordinary in its offensiveness.

I think everyone involved in BGT, including the whol production team and including the UK's favourite cheeky chappies should be ashemd of themselves. Also that ghastly trio of judges. However, I rather think that the sound of the gravy train rolling through is drowning out any insistent voice of conscience.

I don't think she should get a career out of this. She can sing in pubs, clubs, bars, the opening of events without needing to be made famous. She is clearly not equipped to deal with the pressures of fame.

As for the producers of bgt being responsible - tbh I have mixed views on this.

There is no doubt that these shows trade on exploitation. There is also no doubt that Susan Boyle will have been put through as far as the judges (there will have been several auditions before the getting to the judges stage) because of how she came across rather than her voice (not saying that she didn't deserve to get that far as she can sing but iykwim).

However, no-one could have predicted the reaction from not only the British public, but from the public in the US/other countries. And once reaction began, was there really any way to stop it?

In a world of youtube and global press, it's a rollercoster that is very hard to get off once you're on it.

Chris Moyles being offensive?? I find that very hard to believe () Awful man. Switch to R4 asap.

"However, no-one could have predicted the reaction from not only the British public, but from the public in the US/other countries."

Yes they could. It is the job of people to predict things like this - and to manipulate the audience to make sure that the prediction comes true.

I repeat, everyone involved including the viewers should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

Sorry "It is the job of people who produce these ghastly freak shows to predict things like this - " I missed out a word or two.

gosh she choose to go on the show it would seem she was having a tantrum about losing after so many said she would win im glad Diversity won

pingping

Chris Moyles is a twunt.

Poor Susan. I hope she gets some help.

Th ething is this has been going on for ages - it is just the most high profile instance.
When pop idol/x factor was on we started watching it but quickly stopped when we realised that the whole auditions process was about humiliation. Too many of the sad and deluded contestants are not the loveable British eccentrics but people with LDs and SNs. Sometimes they are treated with gentleness and affection but just as often not and I wonder how they and their loved ones cope with their ridicule.
There are boys at my sons school who are reaching adulthood and have enough understanding to want to participate but not sufficient to understand thattheir role would be to be laughed at.
I sometimes wonder how I, sitting on my sofa with an understanding based only upon knowing my son and his friends can see people who should be gently disuaded or not broadcast to protect them and yet the 'experts' on the show don't seem to be able to spot LDs.
It makes me sad.

I wonder what the majority opinion would have been if BGT put out a statement early on to say Susan was not being permitted to take part because she has a learning difficulty?

It would have been outrageous.

Someone should not be prevented from going through because of a disability but equally, someone should not get put through because of a disability. However, once anyone is put into such a situation, individual needs must be met and appropriate support given, because these are not stage school trained, or professionals in the field, they aren't used to it, haven't built up to it, they are just ordinary people who often have no clue what they are letting themselves in for and they may need a bit of input (anyone, not just, for eg, someone with LD).

Many people won't need or want any particular support, others might. It's that understanding that the realisation that the fantasy is so different from the reality might be tough for some people and they might need some support that is missing.

If any of that ramble makes sense

I hate these shows with a passion and I blame my sister for insisting that she had to watch the final while staying at my house.