Axed star Ben to shine again

X FACTOR WINNER HAENOW GETS BACK ON TRACK

FORMER X Factor champ Ben Haenow has told how he struggled to leave the house after being branded a pop flop by the public.

The likeable London lad revealed the stigma of going from X Factor winner to being axed, all within the space of just over a year, left him not wanting to face the world.

But Ben, who was talking in detail about his crisis of confidence for the very first time, said he was now happier than ever to be back releasing music away from Simon Cowell’s record label Syco.

Ben said: “It sounds silly but I found it hard to go out. I didn’t want to leave the house anymore.

“It can be hard enough going out and everyone asking for a picture or autograph but I started to get paranoid dealing with the public perception I’d flopped.

“I didn’t get any abuse at all, if anything people kept coming up saying they were sorry and I didn’t want people feeling sorry for me.

“It is a weird, weird thing dealing with the public’s perception of you being an X Factor winner and then a loser.

“It’s hard to get your head around.“The former van driver beat Fleur

East to be crowned the 2014 X Factor champion. But he was dropped just 13 months later despite his self-titled debut album being certified Gold. Chatting in this exclusive, Ben said: “When I found out I was being dropped I was fine. “But it was this last year I lost a lot of confidence and for a while didn’t enjoy being me. “The hardest thing is battling the perspective of everyone else thinking you have flopped. “I was honestly OK but if enough people come up to you and question how you are coping you do start to wonder yourself.

“I’ve just done my own headline tour but you always have people asking if you’re still doing music. It can be hard.”

But it’s not all doom and gloom for one of the nicest guys in pop.

Ben has just released new single Alive, which will be followed by a new EP and second UK tour.

Plus, he is set to marry childhood sweetheart, Jessica Jones, later this month in Italy.

Ben added: “I’m honestly the happiest and least stressed I’ve ever been in my life.

“I’m getting married to the woman I love and making the music I want to make. I’ve been reminded about what’s important in life.”