An ex girlfriend of X Factor’s Joe McElderry has revealed that the 18 year old has been relentlessly bullied during his time at school.

19 year old Carly Dilbert dated Joe for two years but admitted that no matter how many girlfriends he had, bullies would still call him a ‘mummy’s boy’ and ‘gay boy.’

Carly told The Sunday Mirror:

“He hated it. It really upset him.

“He was adamant he wasn’t gay. But they kept on saying it. It was just kids being cruel, but it was hurtful to Joe.

“He had tons of female friends. He wasn’t into sport or anything like that – and he got bullied because of it. The boys would call him names like ‘mummy’s boy’ or ‘gay boy’ – and laugh at him for hanging around with us girls.

“All the girls liked Joe more than other boys so maybe it was jealousy.

“He won the bullies round with his sense of humour and his funny nature.”

Carly also revealed that Joe has a very close relationship with his mum Eileen and is very affectionate towards her.

She said:

“He was really affectionate to Eileen. She spoiled Joe rotten. He got away with murder with his mum because he was an only child and had no dad.

“He would sit of the sofa and give her a cuddle, even when he was 16.”