The Hour

Alexandra Burke is back on our screens 10 months after being crowned the series five winner of The X Factor.

Despite looking forward to the release of her new single Bad Boys, the London girl has kept close ties with the show, and especially with mentor Cheryl Cole who she says is “always on the other side of the phone.”

“The X Factor was the best time of my life,” Alexandra said. “A lot has changed since then but i’m just loving every day that comes to me and living this dream.

“Cheryl is just a great friend and a great mentor and I’m very thankful that she has kept in touch.

“I have always asked for her opinion because she has been in the business for years so I trust what she says. She gives great advice with this album and I’m really thankful to have a friend like her.”

Off the back of the show, Alexandra’s release of  Hallelujah saw her become the first woman to break one million sales.

The song became the biggest hit of 2008 and the fastest-selling song of all time in its first twenty-four hours, beating Series three winner Leona Lewis.

She has since been hanging out with the stars in studios across the world making her new album. But the bubbly girl from Islington in London is taking nothing for granted.

“At the moment, I am taking every day one step at a time.

“I want to take the world by storm but I have to put the hard work first.”

Alexandra will go back to The X Factor stage for her debut performance of the single Bad Boys. It will be released on October 12, with the album Overcome following on October 19.