As “America’s Got Talent” returned on Tuesday, June 2, Simon Cowell is looking back at the one contestant on “Britain’s Got Talent” who left the biggest mark on him and the franchise.
In an interview with Extra, the tough former “American Idol” judge reflected on the one act that not only transformed the show but also taught him a valuable lesson: never judge a book by its cover. That contestant is none other than Susan Boyle.
Simon Cowell Reflects on Susan Boyle’s Impact on ‘Got Talent’
GettySimon Cowell will always remember how “Britain’s Got Talent” contestant Susan Boyle forever changed the reality TV show when she auditioned on season 3 in 2009. In his conversation with Extra, Cowell shared his regret about judging her before she impressed and shocked the judges with her incredible voice.
“Susan is a real character,” he began. “And I think at the corner of my eye, I must have seen her messing around in the wings or something because I thought she was a comedian, a standup comedian. And, yeah, there is that famous awful look between me and Pierce [Morgan]. And that’s what we were like on the day. And I wanted people to show that you can’t judge a book by its cover,” he added.
Cowell shared that he “absolutely adores” Boyle and praised her for being the one who made the franchise the success it is today. “She did more good for our show than probably any other contestant,” he said.
Boyle auditioned with the song “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Misérables” and instantly shot to fame after her journey on “Britain’s Got Talent,” where she placed runner-up on season 3. Since her debut, Boyle has become a successful singer, selling 25 million records worldwide.
Boyle’s Fresh New Look & Dance Song
Most recently, Boyle debuted a dramatic new look on Instagram that fans can’t stop talking about. On May 27, Boyle shared photos on her Instagram showing her wearing a brown velour tracksuit with a long brown fur coat. The 65-year-old also showed off her fresh new hair transformation, rocking a blonde bob with bangs and oversized sunglasses.
Another photo on Instagram showed Boyle in a recording studio, teasing fans that she was working on new music. “A new era starts tomorrow,” she captioned her images.
Boyle debuted the glamorous hairstyle while attending the Pride of Britain Awards in October 2025.
GettyA second Instagram post showed Boyle with her back turned to the camera, with the words “Just One” emblazoned on her tracksuit. She then shared the news that she collaborated with ice cream brand Cornetto, creating a dance remix of their popular “Just One” tune.
“Well… it Boyled over 🔥I couldn’t keep you all waiting – Just One is yours. Two icons back for summer. The @cornettouki track you know and love, reMAXed with the help of a Grammy award-winning dance producer (more about that soon, I promise),” her caption read.
While speaking about the collaboration, Boyle shared (via RTE), “I get contacted about brand work a lot but this one really appealed … This one was serendipitous as I had been singing the original to myself just days before. When Cornetto asked me to reMAX the most iconic jingle in ice cream history, I said yes immediately.”
She continued, “It is the type of song which makes you feel good, I never thought I would hear myself in a dance track, but I love it and I hope you guys do too!”
