Unlike boybands of the past who have been banned from having girlfriends, the lads — Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson — are making the most of their popularity.

Louis, 19, said: "We're backing Little Mix to win X Factor this year — they're different to most girl groups who go on the show."

Zayn added: "And they are really hot too."

Harry, the biggest heart-throb of the group, is dating TV Xtra Factor presenter Caroline Flack — who is 15 years older than him.

The last time I had seen him was an awkward encounter in a restaurant where the couple were having dinner.

The pair, who had also been spotted together at other events, made no attempt to hide jumping into a car together as they left the West End restaurant. Even his bandmate Louis said: "He's found the one now."

Caroline, 32, was bombarded with death threats after she kissed Harry, 17, last month.

Xtra Factor co-host Olly Murs helped set them up. He told OK! magazine: "Harry likes older women and he's always openly spoken to me about how much he likes Caroline.

"He's always texting me saying, 'Caroline is so hot, put in a good word'. Then, at an awards night, they had a bit of a snog!"

Today, speaking to me at a signing in an HMV store in west London where at least one girl has already fainted, Harry is friendly — but unimpressed when the conversation turns to Caroline.

Asked if it's hard having a relationship while in the band, he said in a surly tone: "I wouldn't know what it's like trying to keep a relationship together 'cos I'm not really in one. Ask Liam!"

Liam, 18, is dating hot dancer Danielle Peazer, while Louis is now a one-woman man after meeting model Eleanor Calder.

Xtra-hot Factor ... Harry Styles shared a snog with host Caroline Flack

Niall and Zayn are both single. Zayn, 18, who has gone out with fellow X Factor graduate Rebecca Ferguson and Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis, admits it's tough to balance work with having a girlfriend.

He said: "I'm completely single now and trying to concentrate on my work. I've realised trying to maintain a relationship in this industry is too difficult."

One Direction do still have time for mates though — including a few showbiz pals

Harry added: "We're mates with James Corden. He always gives us great advice. I've met Rio Ferdinand a few times."

The band, who started their meteoric rise on X Factor last year, feature on the show's 2011 charity single, a cover of Wishing On A Star.

Louis said: "The video shoot was great. It was almost like we were back on X Factor just for one day."

Also on the single are JLS — who are good mates with the boys. One Direction play the first date of their UK tour on December 22 — but any fans expecting JLS-style backflips will be disappointed.

Louis said: "To be honest none of us can dance. We'll be doing the usual One Direction-style running around and getting giddy. We are all just so excited about the tour. I think if Niall gets any more excited he's going to wet himself."

The last time I had seen the band was when they launched their first single, What Makes You Beautiful, which topped the charts by selling more than 250,000 copies. They were hyperactive and excitable while facing fan-mania on one of their first days of promotion.

Today the lads are not jaded — but it certainly feels like they are taking things more seriously.

Harry said: "We've just been so busy, it's crazy. We've got used to the attention a bit. We've adapted to it but you never expect to walk outside and have people screaming at you.

"It's been too busy to take a real step back. We thought when we went to No1 we might have some time to take it in but we didn't. The day after we were working."

There are also other reasons to take things seriously;

On Sunday the lads' second single, Gotta Be You, was beaten to No1 by Rihanna's We Found Love. This week their decent debut album, Up All Night, is competing with the Bajan singer, as well as Michael Buble and Westlife, to top the chart by Sunday. It's going to be close.

Harry said: "That Rihanna song is huge. Finishing behind her is nothing to be ashamed of but, of course, we want No1 this week. We're pushing for it. We're gonna go for it."

Liam added: "I wanted to be mad about We Found Love beating us but it's pretty good. Louis even bought it in the middle of our chart battle."

Typically, Louis is not only interested in the stunning singer's music.

He said: "She is so hot. We'd like to say we met her but she actually just passed us in the hall when we were on X Factor. We still tell people, 'Yeah, we met Rihanna!'

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DAVE HOGAN

"Being up against her is a bit scary and this is Westlife's final album. I don't know what will happen but it makes it more exciting."

After the tour it will be time to conquer the US and Europe — where things are hotter than ever.

The boys have just signed a big-money deal with legendary label Columbia Records — home to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Beyonce and Adele — who will launch them on a tour in the US next year.

Niall, 18, said: "If you look at the names and record sales on Syco, our label here, you go 'wow' — but being label-mates with Bowie, Dylan and Bruce is on another level."

Harry added: "America is a massive place and it's going to be hard. Nothing is gonna come easy. A lot of people have tried and failed but we want to break the mould and see what we can do. We'll definitely give it a go.

"We did a couple of signings in Europe and it surprised us how many people were out there.

"It was crazy in Italy. Riot police had to protect us and nearly had to shut down the whole event. There were 3,500 people. Optimistically, we were expecting 200."

Louis said: "Everyone said about Swedish women being hot and I have to agree — but we'd been in Italy for about 20 minutes and every woman we saw was phenomenal."

Thank god they haven't got a ban on girlfriends.

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