Simon Cowell believes that One Direction won't morph into "nightmares" as a result of their success.

The British-Irish group have enjoyed massive popularity after leaving the X Factor in 2010 and they are due to release their third album 'Midnight Memories' on November 25.

Speaking to Hollywoodlife, the music mogul - who signed the band to his Syco label - said that the third album is often a turning point where some acts go awry.

However, he is confident that One Direction won't fall foul of their own success. He said:

"I have a good relationship with them. But a third album can be tricky because they've had so much success and are so young and they can turn into nightmares. I see that in the media all the time when kids get out of control, but they are good.

"From the beginning, I wasn't going to be some awful Svengali telling them what to do. We are all smart and they can work it out themselves and they have worked it out themselves and they have fun. I've always said to them, 'If it's not fun, then stop doing it'."

One Direction meanwhile preceded 'Midnight Memories' with the release of latest single 'Story of My Life', which reached No.4 in the UK.