Since stunning us on Britain’s Got Talent it’s been clear that the unassuming Susan Boyle is a very shy individual, perhaps explaining why it’s taken so long for her to come to the public’s attention. So what do we know about her so far?

• She hails from Blackburn - though not the one in England, the one in West Lothian.

• Susan was one of nine siblings, and is devoutly Catholic. Reports suggest that she received a round of applause entering her local church the day after the show aired.

• She’s a spinster - for those younger readers who’ve never even heard of the word, it’s a woman or girl of marriageable age who has never married and, therefore, has no children.

• She was mortified to find that she “looked like a garage” on the television.

• At the time of writing (Wednesday morning, since you happen to ask) her performance already been viewed more than four million times on various websites, attracting a cult following.

• She’s now even featured on news schedules in the United States.

• She suffered a mild form of brain damage at birth.

• Susan dreamed of becoming a professional singer but in order to care for her elderly mother, Bridget, limited her efforts to the church choir and karaoke.

• Two years ago, after the death of her mother Bridget at the age of 91, she stopped singing.

• Since the death of her mother she’s lived alone in the family home, with only her cat Pebbles for company.

• Before now she has only ever sung in local choirs and at karaoke, despite singing since 12.

• She says she was picked on as a child, and neighbours say that even now that some of the local children picked on her.

• She thinks modern society is too quick to judge people on their appearances. “There is not much you can do about it; it is the way they think; it is the way they are,” she declared. “But maybe this could teach them a lesson, or set an example.”

• On the show she declared that she wants to follow in the footsteps of the West End star Elaine Paige.

• Susan believes that her age and life experience is her biggest asset: “It gives you faith in your abilities,” she said. “I think I am ready for it.”

• It is rumoured that she will be offered a record deal by Simon Cowell regardless of whether she wins Britain's Got Talent or not.

• She entered the show as she wanted to fulfil a wish to her mother that she wanted to do something with my life.

• She’s now planning to make it through to the “bitter end” of the show.

• Her favourite drink at the local bar is apparently a simple glass of lemonade.