Britain

Monarch. Tyrant. Reformer. Husband from hell. King Henry VIII, who took the throne 500 years ago last month, went on to transform Britain. He married six times and sent two of his queens to the executioner. His battle to divorce his first bride led him to break from the Roman Catholic Church and establish the Church of England. He still divides opinion. "He was an awful person," said Brett Dolman, a curator at Hampton Court Palace, Henry's residence southwest of London. "Emotionally twisted, a bully."

Susan Boyle: An article in Friday's Calendar section about "Britain's Got Talent" contestant Susan Boyle said she was 47. She is 48.

She dreamed a dream, the commentators said, and that's all it remained -- at least on TV. But for Susan Boyle, the Scottish singing sensation upset in a shock defeat by a dance troupe on "Britain's Got Talent," stardom is no doubt hers to keep, with an all-but-certain recording career ahead despite her second-place finish on the show. Millions of viewers as well as London's famous bookmakers were shocked Saturday night when the dancers of Diversity, whose precision-choreographed routine was a definite crowd-pleaser, were announced the winners of "Britain's Got Talent."

'Britain's Got Talent': An article in Thursday's Calendar section about the perils of sudden fame said "Britain's Got Talent" was the template for "American Idol." It should have said that they share a template; "American Idol" premiered four years before "Britain's Got Talent."

Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer whose performances on a British television talent show brought her fame, has left a health clinic, her brother Gerry told GMTV on Friday. "She's much happier and seems a lot more herself," Gerry Boyle said. Susan Boyle entered the Priory clinic in north London suffering from exhaustion Sunday, the day after she finished second on "Britain's Got Talent." Gerry Boyle said his sister plans to start a recording career, may perform at the White House and will be managed by Simon Cowell, a judge and producer of "Britain's Got Talent."

Susan Boyle, who became famous the world over after appearing on the "Britain's Got Talent" television show, returned to the stage on Monday after canceling a weekend performance amid concerns over her health. The 48-year-old church volunteer from Scotland delighted the home crowd of 6,000 in Glasgow by singing "Memory" from the musical "Cats," followed by the tune that made her a star, "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables." She had skipped Sunday's performance on the live "Britain's Got Talent" tour.

Britain's opposition Conservatives won a parliamentary seat from the ruling Labor party, securing a big majority that would give them a landslide if repeated at a national election due within a year. The poll for the Norwich North seat, prompted after the local member of parliament resigned in protest over being punished for his role in an expenses scandal, was being watched for clues to the outcome of the forthcoming general election. Conservative candidate Chloe Smith, who at 27 becomes Britain's youngest MP, beat her Labor rival into second place by a commanding margin.

The British government said Friday that it plans to ban private organ transplants from dead donors to allay fears that prospective recipients can buy their way to the front of the line. A government-commissioned report recommended that organs donated within the state-run National Health Service stay within the public health system, which provides universal care to everyone who lives in Britain. Though transplants are free, there often are be long waiting lists. Few Britons have private transplants, so in practice the new rules will stop foreigners from coming to Britain and paying privately for a transplant.

Susan Boyle is bringing her act to America next week. The Scottish sensation of "Britain's Got Talent" will make her U.S. TV debut on the season finale of "America's Got Talent," according to a person close to the series. The person, who lacked authority to release the information, spoke Friday on condition of anonymity. Boyle surprised viewers of "Britain's Got Talent" with her soaring rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream." The two-part finale of "America's Got Talent" airs Monday and Wednesday on NBC.

At age 92, Dame Vera Lynn has beaten the Arctic Monkeys and even the Beatles to capture the No. 1 record in Britain. The singer who 70 years ago recorded an evocative reminder of home for British soldiers fighting far away on Monday became the oldest living artist to have a No. 1 record in Britain when her album "We'll Meet Again -- The Very Best of Vera Lynn" took the top spot. This week's British album charts were a veritable trip down memory lane. The Beatles had 17 records in the top 100, thanks mainly to the release last week of their remastered albums.