The mother of Zayn Malik has admitted that she had to encourage the singer to audition for the X Factor because he was too scared to go.

The 19-year-old applied for the UK X Factor in 2010 as a solo contestant before being put into One Direction.

However, his mum Trisha told the BBC that she had to persuade a nerve-ridden Malik from backing out of the audition.

She said: "On the morning of the audition Zayn didn't want to go. He chickened out, saying: 'Can't I just leave it?'."

Malik added that she convinced her son to attend the audition to "see what happens".

She continued: "He hated dancing but loved singing. He used to sing until three o'clock in the morning and I often used to have to ask him to turn it down."