Susan Boyle admitted to the Priory

The singing sensation, who was pipped to the crown by dance troupe Diversity, was taken to the private clinic last night after show staff contacted police to say she was acting strangely at her London hotel.

Officers were called to assist and Boyle was reportedly taken by ambulance to the Priory in Southgate, north London, escorted by police.

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A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “Police were called at approximately 6pm to a central London hotel to doctors assessing a woman under the Mental Health Act.

“Police and ambulance attended.

"The woman was taken voluntarily by ambulance to a clinic. At the request of doctors, police accompanied the ambulance.”

Yesterday it emerged the 48-year-old Scottish spinster was taking time off on the advice of a doctor after losing to dance act Diversity in the ITV talent show.

Television company talkbackThames released a statement offering her “ongoing support” amid newspaper reports that she had run amok backstage after her loss, shouting: “I hate this show.”

She also allegedly threw water over a floor manager who tried to calm her down.

Yesterday’s statement from talkbackThames said: “Following Saturday night’s show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained.

“She has been seen by her private GP who supports her decision to take a few days out for rest and recovery.

“We offer her our ongoing support and wish her a speedy recovery.”

The singing sensation is ­expected to sign a multi-million pound record deal this week and could earn as much as £10million, with bookies already predicting a number one chart hit in America.

The church volunteer appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s television show after millions of people logged on to YouTube to watch her spine-tingling Britain’s Got Talent audition.

Her new-found celebrity ensured that the competition kept grabbing the headlines, and the final became the most watched television programme in the UK for five years.

But recent days saw a backlash against Boyle, who was accused of four-letter outbursts at her hotel and faced speculation that she would not be able to cope with the pressure of fame.

Bookies avoided huge payouts with her surprise defeat.

Meanwhile the emotional distress shown by young finalist Hollie Steel, 10, who broke down in tears during her semi-final performance raised questions as to whether an age limit should be imposed on the competition.

Diversity took 24.9 per cent of the public vote in the final, above Boyle’s 20.2 per cent share. The contestant in third place, saxophonist Julian Smith, gained 16.4 per cent of the vote.

Just under four million people voted, ITV said.

Gordon Brown revealed that he watched the final on Saturday night and described Diversity as “absolutely wonderful”.

Asked on GMTV if he had voted for them, he said: “My children had different opinions ... Susan Boyle was also very, very popular.”

He added: “I hope Susan Boyle is OK because she is a really, really nice person and I think she will do well.

“I spoke to Simon Cowell last night and to Piers Morgan and wanted to be sure that she was OK.

“But also to praise Diversity, just an amazing success for Britain and that will go right round the world.”

Susan, who lives alone with her cat in Blackburn, West Lothian, started ­singing when she was 12. But her rise to stardom began seven weeks ago at the Britain’s Got Talent auditions.

Her dowdy image raised ­eyebrows among judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden.

And when she declared that her life-long ambition was to sing professionally, there were sniggers in the audience.