Susan Boyle breaks silence on health woes in BGT return after stroke left career in doubt

During her comeback to the BGT stage this evening, Susan Boyle, 62, confirmed she had suffered a minor stroke.

The Britain’s Got Talent megastar admitted to hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly that she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to perform again due to her health battle, which she hadn’t spoken about prior to the Britain’s Got Talent 2023 final.

The Scottish performer returned to the ITV show to perform the song that made her famous during the BGT auditions in 2009, I Dreamed A Dream, with West End performer Lucie Jones.

She arrived on stage alongside the cast of Les Misérables for the incredible comeback song.

“Susan, it is so lovely to see you, welcome,” Dec told the singer following her performance, before saying: “It’s hard to believe that you appeared on this show in 2009, 14 years ago.

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“How does it feel to be back at BGT?”

Susan replied: “It feels great. It’s really good.

“It’s extra special for me actually, last April there, I suffered a minor stroke and I thought it’d be crazy to be back on stage and I have done it.”

BGT’s head judge Simon Cowell also praised Susan on her comeback, as he shared he had been aware of her health struggles behind-the-scenes.

ITV viewers rushed to compliment Susan on her return to the stage, with one tweeting: “Huge huge respect for Susan Boyle. Post stroke and absolutely smashing it on BGT tonight! Incredible!”

Another fan added: “So glad that Susan Boyle is back. Still one of the best people to ever come out of #BGT. What a woman.”

Susan’s appearance on BGT at the Eventim Apollo in London tonight comes after a period of time away from the public eye.

The Scottish star was last pictured in a rare outing to see Peter Kay’s new stand-up tour, as the comedian arrived in Glasgow last month.

The duo posed for a photo together backstage 12 years after they teamed up for a duet in aid of Comic Relief.

The picture of the singer and the comedian’s reunion was posted in view of Susan’s 82,000 Instagram followers.

The caption read, while referencing their track I Know Him So Well: “A reunion 12 years in the making!

“Susan Boyle & Peter Kay back together again after she went to see his hilariously brilliant show ‘Peter Kay Live’ in Glasgow.

“How has it been 12 years since their Comic Relief video came out?!”