Nearly two years ago, when One Direction were rising to prominence, boy band member Niall Horan professed Coronation Street actress Brooke Vincent as his “ideal woman” to X Factor interviewers.

Now, backstage at last month’s One Direction gig in Manchester, the two were said to have been ‘flirting’ and posing cheerily for photos together.

Horan, aged 20, has made no secret of his Corrie crush but may find difficulty in the presence of Vincent’s current boyfriend – Chelsea-signed football player Josh McEachran.

Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster in the ITV soap, is involved in a longstanding romance with midfielder McEachran, presenting some problems for the hopeful Horan. However, he’s keeping his options open and has also been linked recently with X Factor USA judge Demi Levato and model Zoe Whelan.

Horan’s first ever tweet to Vincent, which came before reaching One Direction fame in February 2011, simply read:

“'You havta follow me hahahahahaha.”

Since then the Irish star has been quoted on the qualities of his perfect partner, saying that he likes his girls to be:

"cute, but not super-sexy, as that can be intimidating."