While many people may have been saddened to see the “Hairy Angel”, Susan Boyle, come in at only second place in the much publicized Britain’s Got Talent competition, at least one sector is rubbing its hand in glee – UK bookies. Boyle was tipped to win the competition and if she had, bookmakers stood to lose a significant amount of money. However, the fact that the dance troupe, Destiny, came from behind to take the title meant that bookies could rest easy and celebrate the second place win.

The Britain’s Got Talent show generated huge interest from around the world, prompting at least one US bookmaker to list odds for Boyle to win. One analyst commented that the United States was so besotted with Susan Boyle that if US viewers were allowed to vote, she would have won the competition hands down.