One Direction and Simon Cowell (third right) (Picture: Wireimage)

Coming third on The X Factor in 2010 certainly didn’t do One Direction any harm, as they went on to become one of the biggest boy vands ever to come out of the UK.

Simon Cowell is pushing for contestants to perform original songs on this year’s The X Factor

However Simon Cowell, who mentored lads during their time on the show has now revealed that hearing Dermot O’Leary say their name and that they were third was ‘like being punched in the stomach’.

‘When you really care and are passionate about an artist, like the year I had One Direction, that’s what matters,’ said Simon about being asked how much he would like to win in 2017.



‘When we got to the finals I thought we would at least come second, I remember that night they said, “The act who’s third is One Direction”, and it was like being punched in my stomach. I felt that bad for them, even though I thought outside of the show they would do well.


‘You get that connection, so it’s not like you’ve won, it’s someone you care about. If I’m connected with an artist then I’ll care. If I’m not then I actually don’t care if I win or not.’

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The 2017 series of the hit ITV show will see Simon return to head up the judging panel along with Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Walsh, and Sharon Osbourne.

Fans can expect lots of change in this year’s series as Simon has also confirmed that there will be less live shows.

‘The early and middle rounds rate well so the idea is to do more of the middle shows and less of the live shows,’ admits Simon.

‘We’ll see if it works or not. I think there might be a middle ground.’

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