The former X Factor winners have never seen eye to eye and, during a radio interview yesterday, James was less than pleasant about Matt’s music.

“[Matt’s] got no heat. His music is pretty drab for me. It’s for bedwetters.”

The current reigning X Factor champ, 25, continued: “He’s trying to promote his stuff by taking offence at something I said back when I was on The X Factor.

“I got asked a question, ‘why haven’t the male winners done well?’ And I said, ‘Because the music hasn’t been good enough.’ I didn’t single anyone out, and he took it personally as though I was attacking him.”

Matt, 30, today responded to James’ comments, saying: “The guy is deeply unpleasant from what I can gather. He has ripped into me in the past. He has been ripping into me for about a year now.

“We had crossed words a year ago, he hasn’t dropped it. The guy’s ego is off the scale and that’s all I’ll say about him. I have nothing else to say about James Arthur.”

And Impossible singer James hasn’t been too nice about some of the current X Factor contestants, either.

Last week he tweeted: “I’m sorry but this Kingsland Road have me cringing to the max, they aren’t good enough. There time must come to an end this Sunday #xfactor.”

He continued: “Now this is what I’m talking about we have @unionjworld @onedirection and dare I say it @lawsonofficial (Boyband? Not boyband?) kingsland no).

But when James, who appeared in the audience at last week’s X Factor, was asked by Dermot O’Leary who his favourite acts were, Kingsland Road were one of his choices.