Britain’s Got Talent contestant Susan Boyle – dubbed the 'hairy angel' – has become a global phenomenon.

The unemployed 47-year-old blew Simon Cowell and the rest of the BGT judges away on Saturday's show with her unexpectedly tuneful rendition of Les Miserables' I Dreamed A Dream.

Since then, high-profile praise from such unlikely fans as Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher (Demi revealed on Twitter that her performance reduced her to tears) has helped Susan become a Youtube sensation.

A clip of her singing has so far received a staggering 12 million plays - and counting.

Susan Boyle makes her US TV debut on Good Morning America

She also made quite an impression on NBC Today Show host Kathie Lee Gifford, who was so moved by footage of Susan that she had to grab a sock – being used for the next feature – to dry her eyes and blow her nose.

“Get me the Kleenex please, sorry guys but I’m sobbing,” she whimpered.

“I love that woman, can we get her on? Oh my God. Can you imagine what she has lived with her whole life?

“Oh my gosh, to see Simon’s face change like that...She is like that Paul (Potts) guy from before, looks are deceiving.”

Susan is already the bookmakers' favourite to win the contest and land her own record deal.