Susan Boyle returned to the stage last night after keeping her fans waiting to learn whether she would perform on the opening night of the Britain’s Got Talent live tour.

The Scottish singer performed at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham less than two weeks after she was admitted to the Priory clinic. She came second to the dance group Diversity in the final of the ITV show.

Tour organisers were determined not to put any pressure on Boyle to perform in case she suffered a repeat of the emotional breakdown that led to her admission to the North London hospital. Her fans were left waiting until the last moment as Boyle waited to acclimatise herself to the arena until she was comfortable enough to perform. Her representatives now hope that she will perform on the remaining 19 dates of the tour.

In the event last night she belted out I Dreamed A Dream and Memory from the musicals Les Misérables and Cats. During the performance she blew a kiss to her fans as they screamed and whistled.

The fans who queued outside the 13,000-capacity venue had been given no information as to whether the woman most of them had come to see would take the stage. They were delighted that she felt well enough to perform.

Melissa Cooke, 39, from Swadlincote, Derbyshire, said: “She was absolutely fantastic — after everything that has happened it was really good to see her. She sang the one from her audition and got a standing ovation. She performed very well, even if she didn’t look particularly well and by the end she did look a bit spaced out, I think she was a bit overwhelmed by it but she still sang brilliantly. She wore what she wore in the final and looked very glamorous.”

Nicola Rushton, 21, from Wolverhampton, said: “She came out and did great — she really was fantastic. She performed brilliantly and it was such a good night. After I heard she had come out of rehab, I had no doubts that she wouldn’t turn up.”

Jenny Luker, 25, from Bristol, said: “I’m a massive fan, I think she is fantastic and I think she should have won. After the concerns that she might not turn up, everybody was so pleased to see her. She looked more confident than usual, but compared with others out there she didn’t look that comfortable — she still looks very aware of the stardom.

“She was first on after the interval and she got a standing ovation. All in all, it was a really good night.”

The tour is at venues across the country until July 5.

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