Susan Boyle's brother Gerry believes his sister is desperately unhappy and needs love in her life.

Gerry Boyle told The People newspaper that "It's just all so sad, so sad. Susan has the world at her feet in terms of fame and money but at this precise moment in time it means nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"The one thing she wants above all everything else is love. Who doesn't?

"Her biggest wish is to find someone who she can share her success with and support her through the difficult times.

"Of course her family will always be there for her but it is not the same as having someone special in your life."

The People reports that Boyle has increasingly "enchanted" by manager Andy Stephens 59, who began representing her last year but there are no suggestions of a romance betwen the pair.

Gerry said: "She sees how happy and contented he is with his family and wants that kind of security and love for herself.

"Susan knows she can jet anywhere in the world first-class, eat in the best restaurants and stay in the top hotels but that means nothing to her if she doesn't have anyone to share those moments with. All those throw-away comments about Pebbles her cat being her soulmate were a way of masking unhappiness."

Gerry said: "If I'm honest, things aren't great for Susan at the moment on a personal level. She's absolutely exhausted after non-stop traveling promoting her album around the world.

"As a result she flares up easily - though saying that, she can bounce back almost instantly.

"Getting back to her little council home used to be her release but now it's more like a prison cell.

"After she was confronted by an intruder last month, she can't sleep even though she has security posted outside her home 24/7. Susan's become a curtain twitcher - she spends hours in the night staring out from behind her curtains.

"When she can't sleep, she rings me or plays things over and over in her head until they almost crush her. I try and lift her out of this negative mind-set but it is so hard. When she hasn't got anyone special to lean on, things begin to go wrong for her. Susan has this impression that everybody thinks she is some kind of freak because of her appearance on stage and this is what puts men off.

"Of course her money and fame would intimidate most men and I know the jokes about Susan being nicknamed the 'Hairy Angel' hurt her enormously."

"The harsh reality is that Susan has to control her fame, not the other way around.

"Maybe if Mr. Special came along, everything in the garden would be rosy again, but as she's off to Australia I'm not holding my breath."