Susan Boyle: School bullying caused lifelong depression

Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle explains classmates made life an 'absolute hell'

Susan Boyle has spoken out for the first time about her lifelong battle with depression.

The Britain's Got Talent runner-up, who currently tops the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic, made the comments on a chat show in Australia.

Born with mild learning difficulties, a sad Boyle explained how she used to be ‘made a fool of' at school in Blackburn, West Lothian.

The 48 year-old I Dreamed A Dream singer, who is known for her cheeky antics as well as her stunning voice, said: ‘I know I'm taking a big chance telling you this but you have to be honest. I used to be made a fool of at school'.

‘It was psychological bullying and that leaves a scar. It also cultivates a lot of anger.'

‘When people are a wee bit slow others pick on them. My life was made an absolute hell.'

After failing to make the grade on Michael Barrymore's My Kind of People, Boyle sang locally before applying to Simon Cowell's TV talent show.

‘When I went on Britain's Got Talent I said, "‘This is my chance to prove myself"'.

Although the world was impressed with her on-stage performances, rumours circulated about how Susan was coping with pressures behind the scenes. After a hectic studio schedule in the show's final week, she was admitted to The Priory suffering from exhaustion.

The singer is candid, explaining: ‘I can be up and down like a yo-yo. I can be depressed'.

‘I can be a bit funny after being tired but whenever I go on stage I forget all about that.

‘I'm told I'm a different person on stage.'

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