Referring to various musical talent shows here in Australia I think that the winners only have a 1 - 2 year life span if lucky.
World wide there has only been the few that have made it.
Once the recording companies have their hit from the euphoria of the show it is basically goodbye goodluck. The contestants do not get the correct support that they should.That is the way I see it.
The runners up seem to have more long term success than the winners to me. That is when they can be themselves to a certain degree.

well Dave i have my own opinions on this if people want to set themselves up for this they know what it entails if family and friends cared about these people they would have told them long before the show that they are just not good enough who could put someone they cared for through such a thing? In the case of Susan Boyle im not so sure that it is just the sudden overnight fame that got to her but rather the negative and hurtful comments that were made by the media who were hell bent on giving this woman a hard time, but fortunately it didn't work in their favor as she done well and pulled through regardless if you don't fit into a certain type then the media will soon let you know personally i don't think i could put myself through it . also there are some who have such an enormous self ego that they just cant see they are crap and deserve what they get in my opinion hard woman i am lol i also believe that there are some who enter into it to basically to take the piss just to get on tv they know they are crap and even try harder to be worse eejits as we say in scotland lol anyway tata for noo talk soon xxx ps and hay you know how i feel about a certain judge called cheryl wont even go there haha