Joe McElderry has admitted that he is still intimidated by X Factor boss Simon Cowell.

This year’s winner told Heat magazine: “I used to be hardly able to look him in the eye! I’m getting a bit better, but he’s still a bit scary – it’s like he’s got this aura around him, like, ‘I am Simon Cowell’.”

He added: “It’s weird because when I auditioned, although I knew he’s the one I had to impress, I thought he’d be the one I’d be least starstruck by – he’s not glamorous like Cheryl or anything like that… but it was the total opposite – he’d walk down the corridor and say hello and I’d be shy, but now I can have a conversation, sort of.”

Thankfully he has developed a stronger bond with his former mentor Cheryl Cole.

He said: “She texts me all the time. She’s been texting us to say, ‘Just enjoy it all,’ and she said, ‘If you ever have a moment where you have a bit of a wobble and think, Oh God, what’s going on?, just give me a ring.’ I feel like if I was having a crisis or something, I could phone Cheryl.

“We chat all the time – late night, mornings, whenever. She’s like a really good friend. I think we’ll still be friends in 10 years’ time. I’ve got so much to thank her for.

“I’m gonna go round soon. She’s invited me for dinner!”