'Call My Name' sensation Cheryl Cole has spoken out about the pride she feels for boyband One Direction, who rose to fame on The X Factor while she was a judge on the show.

Speaking to MTV News, Cole explained that she spent time mentoring the 'One Thing' lads while Simon Cowell was away so is just as much to thank for their success as the music mogul is:

"There was a couple of weekends where Simon [Cowell] was poorly and I had to mentor them, so I take full responsibility for all their success – and over the pond, I think it’s all me."

"I took credit for [One Direction] on Twitter – I Twittered the boys, saying ‘Remember who really mentored you when Simon wasn’t around!’"

She also admitted that despite being a little older than the heartthrobs, she totally gets their sex appeal and revealed that she once walked in on a half-naked Harry Styles wearing nothing more than his underwear:

"Harry? I’ve seen Harry in his boxer shorts. Harry’s a little brother type, but I get it, the girls go crazy for him – and the women.”