X Factor star makes shock ITV return as she shares 'difficult' love life 17 years after show

X-Factor star Diana Vickers appeared on ITV's Lorraine today to speak about her return to the music business, and her love life 17 years after appearing on the hit show.

The star rose to fame in the on the fifth series of the X Factor in 2008, reaching the semi-final alongside winner, Alexandra Burke and boyband JLS.

Diana is now back in business with her new song Ice Cream, which comes after the star took a break from music for over a decade to focus on acting and other projects after parting ways with her label.

READ MORE: Olly Murs becomes a dad again as he reveals newborn son's sweet name

READ MORE: Katie Price beams in the studio ahead of music comeback after surprise chart success

Away from her singing career, Diana also ventured into podcasting, teaming up with Metro's relationship writer Alice Giddings. The show, Just Between Us sees the pair sharing honest reactions, swapping stories, and tackling tricky relationship issues.

The pair also talk about "icks" on their podcast, and there's one that really sticks out for Diana, and it involves ping pong balls. One viewers messaged the show, revealing that her biggest ick was a man running after a ping pong ball, to which Diana can relate.

Sharing her story to Lorraine, the 34-year-old said: "I went out and played ping pong with a guy, and I saw it. It's such an irrational ick, but it's them flapping about trying to get the ball. You know what, just leave it!" she continued.

"Once you can't get the ball, put the bat down, the games over, we move!" she laughed.

“I think being a woman in your 30s, it is difficult to date and it’s confusing. So the podcast is just a nice, safe space to be in where you can listen to people of a similar age and hear similar stories,” she recently told OK! about the venture.

Speaking further about her love life to the publication, Diana candidly opened up, sharing that she had been celibate for almost a year after a dating battle.

“Dating in general is hard, it’s a minefield,” she said. “I didn’t go on a date this year for about five months, because last year I really put myself out there and had seen a few people.

“So I gave it a break and recently went on my first date in a while, which was nerve wracking. But at the end of the day, I do really want to meet someone, so you just have to put yourself out there.”

“I always get nervous anyway about that next step and having sex, and particularly now. I’ve been celibate for about eight months, so it’s more overwhelming to think about.

"Once you get into it, it’s brilliant and fantastic and it’s what it’s all about, but it’s very revealing too,” she said.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.