One Direction's Zayn Malik: I should have never dated Rebecca Ferguson - it was wrong from the start

 Zayn Malik is now dating Little Mix's Perrie Edwards, 19, but his first high-profile relationship was with fellow X Factor 2010 contestant Rebecca Ferguson, 26.

The pair's break-up was painful.

'It did end quite badly so we don't talk any more,' Zayn, 19, tells Now's Dan Wootton.

'We're not in touch at all.

'It was just a weird situation and a weird time I was going through being away from home on The X Factor tour.

'To get that comfort and friendship from someone was nice. But I think it was a wrong decision to make at such a young age.'

Does Zayn think it was unrealistic for him and mum-of-two Rebecca to be together?

'Definitely. That was definitely unrealistic. That's evident now,' he admits.

'It was just a wrong idea from the start.

'It shouldn't have happened.'