Simon Cowell has reflected on the harsh treatment he and his fellow judges, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan, gave to Susan Boyle during her audition for Britain’s Got Talent. The media mogul, now 66, has admitted that their initial reactions were unfair and unkind, especially considering the impact it had on the singing legend.
Cowell became a household name in the 2000s and 2010s as one of the most recognizable faces of Britain’s Got Talent, where ordinary people from all walks of life competed for a chance to shine. Among those who captured the public’s imagination was Susan Boyle, who became an instant sensation after her unforgettable performance in 2009.
At the time, the 47-year-old Scottish contestant was dismissed by the judging panel, who seemed unimpressed with her appearance. However, when she took the stage and delivered a powerful rendition of I Dreamed a Dream, the room was completely transformed. Her raw talent stunned everyone, including Cowell, Holden, and Morgan, and she went on to become a national treasure, launching a successful music career that continues to this day.
Despite the positive outcome, Cowell has since expressed regret over how the judges initially reacted to Boyle. In a recent interview on Jamie East’s podcast Celebrity Trenches, he admitted that their behavior during her audition was unacceptable.
“I look back and I just think, ‘my God we look so awful, horrible.’ I actually don’t think we look bad enough. I think we were even worse than that and they went, ‘you look awful.’” He added, “And I said: ‘We are awful!’ All of us. I mean that look that Piers gives me, I think out of all the looks I’ve ever remembered, that might be the worst. I was just as bad.”
Cowell also revealed that the final edit of the show didn’t fully capture the extent of their poor behavior. “Of course I had the ability to cut all of that stuff out but it was a bit of a wake up call. You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
Piers Morgan later acknowledged Cowell’s comments, saying, “He’s right but Susan had the last laugh that night… and has carried on having the last laugh ever since, selling 30 million albums and making us all look very stupid!”
Susan Boyle herself was aware of the harsh judgment she faced when she first appeared on the show. In a 2019 interview, she described the experience as “suffocating,” comparing it to being part of a “freak show.” She admitted that it hurt, but she ultimately proved her critics wrong.
Morgan, too, has spoken about his initial reaction to Boyle. He recalled that he and the other judges expected her to be a joke, hoping to get a good laugh before moving on. However, when she began interacting with them, things quickly changed.
“She was making silly jokes and pulling funny faces and we’re like: ‘Oh dear, this is really going to be the end.’” He added, “When she began to sing, it was one of the most unexpected things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Amanda Holden also shared her own surprise at Boyle’s performance. In a 2016 interview, she admitted that she had expected Boyle to be a stand-up comedian. “To this day I thought Susan Boyle was going to be a stand-up comic. It still shocks me when I watch it, and she opens her mouth and sings.”
Despite the initial backlash, Boyle’s success has only grown over the years. Recently, actor Timothée Chalamet helped bring her back into the spotlight by calling her one of Britain’s “all-time greats” and praising her for “dreaming bigger than us all.” Their friendship deepened when Chalamet gifted her a coveted Marty Supreme jacket.
While Cowell, Holden, and Morgan have publicly reflected on their past mistakes, there has been no official response from their representatives regarding the incident.
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