Britain's Got Talent final peaks with 19.2m viewers on ITV1

'Britain's Got Talent' dominated most of the evening's viewing with an average of 15m viewers and a 69.1% share of the 6.45-8.30pm audience tuning in to ITV1 for the first instalment of the night.

The results show, which was when the peak figure came, was watched by an average of 17.3m and a 67.4% share of the 9.30-10pm audience.

Analysts predict the broadcaster will have raked in more than £30m in much needed advertising revenue.

Boyle was beaten in the final by Essex dance act Diversity, who received around a quarter of the 4m votes. Boyle had 20%.

Last night the Scottish singer, who has become a YouTube sensation with celebrity fans including Demi Moore, was taken to private London clinic The Priory suffering with exhaustion.

After her defeat Boyle is reported to have run down a corridor shouting "I hate this show" and is also accused of throwing a cup of water over a floor manager who tried to calm her down.

Some viewers were also surprised when Boyle pulled up her skirt to show off a leg following her performance of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Miserables.

'Britain's Got Talent' producers are understood to have contacted the police to say she was acting strangely at a London hotel.

Despite coming second Boyle is already an international celebrity having appeared via satellite link on US shows 'Oprah' and 'Larry King Live' and it is estimated that she could earn between £5m and £8m.

Paul Potts, the singer who won the show in 2007, reached number one with his first album and is understood to have earned £6m.

Simon Cowell is ready to sign Boyle to his Syco record label at Sony this week, according to The Mirror. She is expected to record her debut album with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

Earlier on Saturday ITV1's coverage of Chelsea's 2-1 win against Everton in the FA Cup final at Wembley attracted 3.6m viewers and a 39.2% share of the 1-5.30pm audience. Viewing figures peaked at 6.4m viewers during the 4.45-5pm time slot.

BBC One's medical drama 'Casualty' came in second in the ratings battle against 'Britain's Got Talent' with 4.3m viewers and a 19.6% share of the 8.15-9.15pm audience.

It was followed on BBC One by 'Reggie Perrin' remake, starring Martin Clunes and Fay Ripley, which drew 1.5m viewers and a 6.3% share of the 9.15-9.45pm audience.

On Sunday night a special extended one-off episode of ITV1 sitcom 'Benidorm', which picked up where the second series left off with the aftermath of the beach wedding, won the prime time slot with 4.7m viewers and a 20.8% share of the 9-10pm audience.

BBC One detective drama 'Inspector George Gently' came a close second with 4.6m viewers and a 20.3% share of the 8.30-10pm audience. Last night's episode saw Gently and Bacchus investigating the case of a returning German POW found dead in the harbour of a small fishing village.

Channel 4's airing of Ben Stiller comedy 'Night at the Museum', which also stars Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Ricky Gervais, scored 2.4m viewers and a 10.6% share of the 8-10.15pm audience. Including Channel 4+1 figures it reached 2.8m viewers.

BBC Two documentary series 'South Pacific' won 2.2m viewers and a 9.8% share of the 8.30-9.30pm audience, beating Five's airing of 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines', which pulled in 1.7m viewers and a 9.2% share of the 9-11.15pm audience.

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• Leave Susan Boyle Alone.