One Direction have heaped praise on this year's X Factor boybands.

The global icons appeared on the show in 2010 and came third in the final behind Rebecca Ferguson and winner Matt Cardle.

They have, of course, gone on to achieve worldwide success and they have taken time out to praise this year's boybands, Union J and District3. Harry Styles told heat:

"The boybands are really good. I think it's good that there are two boybands because a lot of the time I don't really think they want to put two of them through. I think they are both really great and talented."

Bandmate Liam Payne meanwhile added: "They are such nice guys as well."