Mason, 21, angered 56-year-old Simon during the six chair challenge and stormed from the stage after throwing his microphone to the floor.

But, after Tom Bleasby quit the show, the boys’ mentor Nick Grimshaw controversially brought Birmingham-based Mason back for the judges’ houses round.

Now Mason has revealed he and Simon have made up and ‘respect’ each other. He told The Sun: “He rang me. We had a little conversation, like, ‘There’s no hard feelings, there’s no bad blood, no-one’s upset’.

“Respect from artist to artist. He’s the big man, the big boss.”

After it was revealed he’d been given a second chance, Mason insisted he was determined to change the publics’ perception of him.

Sharing a snap from his latest audition on Instagram, Mason wrote: “Just want to say a MASSIVE thankyou for all the love you have shown me now I’m back!

“It’s kept me strong, so hope you can all keep supporting. It all starts again this weekend… #judgeshouses #xfactoruk [sic].”

Nick recently excused Mason’s previous behaviour, insisting he has ‘artistic temperament which can be difficult’.

He added: “[Mason’s] talented and in previous auditions excited us judges. Sometimes a challenge is interesting.”