X Factor champ James Arthur puts public spat with Louis Tomlinson behind him as pair ‘become friends’
The Say You Won't Let Go singer enjoyed a public feud in 2013 with the One Direction star but says he is a reformed man
FORMER X Factor winner JAMES ARTHUR is at No1 with comeback single Say You Won’t Let Go – and he’s a changed man.
This means no more public spats. He’s even made up with LOUIS TOMLINSON, who he called a “little b***h” in a 2013 feud.
In an exclusive chat James told us: “Me and Louis are on really good terms. Over the last couple of years we’ve had a few conversations.
“I did say to him: ‘Look, I shouldn’t have been so vocal about things back then’. I apologised.
“Don’t get me wrong, at first he was still a little bit p****d off and I was a bit p****d off with him – but we’ve worked it out over time, with a few false starts, and now we get on well.
“I’ve sent him my music and he’s given me advice so we’ve sort of, in an unusual way, become friends.”
James admits he is to blame for the bad behaviour that saw his popularity nosedive after his 2012 talent show success.
And he never dreamed the public would forgive him so soon.
He said: “At the root of all the problems was me. Being No 1 is a little bit surreal – I thought I might scrape Top 50. It’s just so rewarding.”
The singer, who has also finished a new album, added of his post-X Factor troubles: “Times were tough, I spent a lot of my money, things were getting tight and offers to go in the jungle were financially very tempting.
"But I wanted to give this another crack and I’m so pleased I have.”
We’re thrilled such a top voice has finally got his act together.
All Styles and no substance
HARRY STYLES managed to avoid saying anything remotely interesting in his first solo interview since ONE DIRECTION went on hiatus.
So it is no wonder he is focusing all his efforts on looking pretty.
Moving on from his baby-face, scrawny boyband days, Harry has had to beef up to play a solider in World War Two movie Dunkirk.
And we spoke to trainer-to-the-stars Ben Bruno, who helped whip Harry into shape.
He said: “Harry can pull more than 500lb, attached by a rope, with just his upper body. It is actually freakish.
“He trained very, very hard for the movie. Every day, in fact. He is the guy that most guys hate because he is good at everything.”
It sounds like Harry, who had to chop off his long mop for the role, could give USAIN BOLT a run for his money.
Ben added: “He can do more than any of the pro-athletes I train, believe it or not.”
It is good to know that Harry has more to give than the very lacklustre inter- view he gave to Another Man magazine – out this week.
The biggest revelation that Harry could muster, in the joint chat with US talk show host CHELSEA HANDLER, was that he was “nervous” while filming the CHRISTOPHER NOLAN directed movie, due out next summer.
We miss the days when Harry would happily offer out gems like: “I’ve got four nipples.”
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Brand expands his horizons
REFORMED wildman RUSSELL BRAND has decided there should be more to life than hosting his own online book club.
The ex-comic has enrolled at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies to study for a degree called Religion in Global Politics.
The soon-to-be dad has changed his tune after boasting about his lack of qualifications.
He once said: “I have no A levels, it’s all rhubarb.”
He will have to commute to classes from Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, where he lives with girlfriend Laura Gallacher.
But at least when their baby comes, it’ll have something to aspire to now Dad’s getting all qualified.
Pull the other one, Brooklyn
WHEN it comes to trying to score booze underage, BROOKLYN BECKHAM may wish he wasn’t one of the world’s most recognisable teens.
The 17-year-old was turned away by staff at Camden Roundhouse in North London when he tried to buy alcohol at the upstairs bar.
His diligent server told him: “I know you, you’re Brooklyn Beckham.”
A source said: “He looked pretty sheepish.”
Brooklyn was at CHANCE THE RAPPER’s headline act at the last night of the Apple Music Festival on Friday.
Perfect artist to watch while sipping on a Ribena, we hear.
Spencer gets a royal telling-off
WEDDING plans for PIPPA MIDDLETON and JAMES MATTHEWS are well underway – with the groom’s younger brother SPENCER MATTHEWS told to be on his best behaviour.
James has even slashed the odds of Spencer copping off with a bridesmaid, by banning him from being Best Man.
Made In Chelsea lothario Spencer admitted: “I am not safe.”
He added he is not allowed to talk much about the Middleton match, saying: “I’m banned from mentioning the M-word. My family wouldn’t be happy.”
Spencer was on his best behaviour at a London bash to mark sunglasses brand Taylor Morris’s third birthday.
He even resisted the champagne, saying: “I’m taking it easy on the drink.”
He’ll need to do more than that to stay on the right side of the royals.
White hot fave at Paris Fashion Week
WE’D like to imagine IRINA SHAYK was gutted she had to skip her end-of-evening visit to the chippy – to avoid getting ketchup on that pristine dress.
White seemed to be the look at Paris Fashion Week, with MARION COTILLARD, also opting for it as she stepped out for the first time since the BRANGELINA debacle.
KIM and KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN stuck to black. They don’t fear their dry-cleaning bills.
Sam's Bond divided
WE knew SAM SMITH had a pretty good 2015 but now we know just how good, with his accounts revealing he pocketed £3million.
The fortunes of the Grammy winner’s firm increased threefold from the previous year, following the success of debut album In The Lonely Hour and penning the theme tune to the Bond movie Spectre.
Accounts for Sam Smith World show he paid himself a neat little bonus of £676,500, while the company’s total assets are just under £3.3million.
The year before, the business made only £23,000 profit.
Sam is currently off-radar – probably spending some of his hard-earned millions.
No doubt he’ll be back soon with his second release, which he says will sound similar to the “classicness” of his first album.
He recently said: “I really love all of the songs – except Money on My Mind.”
That’s a bit rich, literally, coming from the £3million man.
Bloomin eck, Gigi!
GIGI HADID is a style icon the world over – but who knew flamboyant LAURENCE LLEWELYN-BOWEN, of Changing Rooms fame, was her fashion inspiration?
The supermodel stepped out in this garish, floral outfit between shows at Paris Fashion Week – and you could be forgiven for thinking she raided the wardrobe of the quirky interior designer, who often found himself at the top of London’s worst-dressed lists.
Gigi’s boyfriend ZAYN MALIK must have got her hooked on re-runs of the home-improvement show.
Or possibly Austin Powers . . .