THE Woman Who Silenced Simon Cowell makes her sold-out York Barbican debut this weekend as part of her first ever British tour.

All tickets for Sunday’s show went in double quick time, testament to the impact Susan Boyle has made in selling 20 million records worldwide since her spectacular rise on the first series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.

The 52-year-old operatic pop singer from West Lothian, Scotland, will “never forget” the moment that shy, devout Susan Boyle stepped on to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre stage in Glasgow for her audition rendition of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables.

“All I did was to apply for a talent show. I was lucky enough to be chosen. That’s it in a nutshell,” she says. It remains the annual talent contest’s defining moment, drawing 300 million YouTube hits en route to Susan finishing second to dance troupe Diversity.

She has since released five albums, I Dreamed A Dream, Someone To Watch Over Me and Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs From The Stage and the Christmas records The Gift and Home For Christmas. She has appeared in a film too, The Christmas Carol, last December.

Susan played seven shows in Scotland last year, leading to her 19-date tour that opens in Liverpool tomorrow.

“I’ve always wanted to do my own show and after the reception I received in Scotland I cannot wait to get back on stage,” she says. “I’ve chosen some of my favourite songs from past albums and also new songs that not only have I wanted to perform for years but resonate with me and I hope my fans will love.”

Susan Boyle In Concert, York Barbican, Sunday, 7.30pm