Singing sensation Susan Boyle ends as runner-up in "Britain's Got Talent," Diversity walks away with top honors

But it was not to be and the dowdy spinster, who hails from small-town Scotland with a voice worthy of Broadway, finally was outvoted and lost out to a multi-ethnic posse of 10 street dancers aged 12 to 25 from London and Essex called Diversity.

According to the Times of London, Boyle received just over 20 percent of the 4 million telephone votes cast, while Diversity won nearly 25 percent of the votes. Saxophonist Julian Smith, 39, from Birmingham, came third in the closely fought competition.

However, Boyle, who is an unemployed church volunteer and lives alone with her cat outside Edinburgh, graciously accepted the decision, saying the "best people won" and wished the winners "all the best."

Boyle also thanked those who cheered and rooted for her all the way to the final even as some wondered whether she could handle all that pressure after she put in a shaky performance of "Memory" in the show's semi-finals last weekend, singing occasionally out of tune and out of time.

"I want to thank people for all the support they've given me," Boyle, who wore a floor-length sequined gown, said after her name was announced as the runner-up.

Boyle also said she had no future plans as such except perhaps cutting an album. "I'll just play it by ear. What a journey - unbelievable, and very humbling," she gushed.