“Ninety-nine per cent [of the reaction] is amazing,” he explained.

“Compared to when I was on The X Factor seven years ago, it was more like 50/50 then.

“There were a lot of things being said online, good and bad, but now it’s completely the other way; it’s so positive.

“Sometimes it’s a lot to get your head around… but in terms of how much I appreciate it and how amazing it is, it’s really special.”

He continued: “I’m not Ed Sheeran, but it is at the point now where everywhere I go, people stop me and talk to me about my songs.

“It’s blown my mind that that even happens.”

Mallet appeared on ITV’s The X Factor in 2017 and got as far as the live shows.

He said since then his career had gone from “strength to strength”.