Cole bans Burke from having a boyfriend

Alexandra Burke has been instructed to stay away from relationships by her X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole.

Burke, who split from her boyfriend D'Andre West before entering the reality contest, revealed to The Sun: "Cheryl told me to keep away from men. She wants me to focus and concentrate on music without any distractions. There will be no romance - I'm all about the music."

She continued: "All my ex-boyfriends want to get back together with me but it's not going to happen. They are exes for a reason. Once I break up with someone I don't go back with them. I don't want anything to do with men at the moment. I don't need any distractions."

The 20-year-old said that she is delighted her friendship with Cole has blossomed: "Cheryl and I have united and become strong together, definitely. She is now my friend more than my mentor.

"She's proud of me and I’m proud of her being my friend. She is an inspiration to me - she's a young woman who's gone through the same situation I'm in.

"She's taught me so much and I'm so grateful that she's in my life."