Morgan: 'Americans want to beat Boyle'

Piers Morgan has predicted that the worldwide exposure of Susan Boyle will give a boost to the upcoming series of America's Got Talent.

The panellist told The Futon Critic that the success of the Britain's Got Talent runner-up would have an impact on the US version of the show.

Morgan said: "The British show got record ratings up 50% because of the Susan Boyle phenomenon. And I have got no doubt that we are going to see significant increases in the ratings of America's Got Talent this summer.

"I think Americans are very competitive, particularly when it comes to the Brits, and I think that America's going to want to tune in to see how America responds to the challenge, you know? Have you got anyone who can beat our Susan?"

He added: "Do I think there's a Susan Boyle act in there that could have the same kind of effect on the world? Yeah, I think there's two or three that, you know, depending on how they go down with the American public, could be really, really big acts.

"So I'm very excited and again the Susan Boyle phenomenon has pulled through into the American show."

The fourth season of America's Got Talent premieres tonight with a two-hour special on NBC.