X FACTOR sensation Diana Vickers is looking forward to a fun-filled New Year with the Live Tour alongside the other show finalists.
This week Diana, 17, spoke to the Observer about her excitement and joy at coming home to Accrington for Christmas, saying: "It has been just so good. I have loved it. I have been so excited about coming home and spending time with my family and friends."
The Westholme pupil said she had managed to call in at her Blackburn school on the final day of the Christmas term to see her friends.
"It was lovely to see them all again."
Diana, who lives with mum Anne and older sister Charlotte, 21, in Burnley Road, has performed over a dozen live gigs since the X Factor.
She now has a tour manager who organises the events for her and takes her around the country to perform.
"I am loving it. I have done gigs in London and up north too in Harrogate and Manchester. It’s been so busy," she said. "It’s even better than I ever thought it would be. I am having such a fun time.
"I am just sorting out all my clothes for the X Factor Live Tour – I need to get organised!"
Her mum, who was delighted to have her daughter back home for Christmas, added: "It has just been unbelievably busy. But of course it’s been great to have her back over Christmas and the New Year."
While Diana loves the limelight she admitted: "People recognise me and ask me for autographs and photographs all the time. It’s weird, a really bizarre feeling. I don’t think you ever get used to it."
Speaking about recent reports in national tabloid newspapers that she had got together with old flame Chris Jones over Christmas, Diana said: "No, that is not true. Chris and I are very good friends.
"I have seen him over Christmas and spoken to him because we are the best of friends."
And, asked if she had got together again with X-Factor’s Eoghan Quigg who she was rumoured to be seeing, she added: "No, I have been so busy touring and he has been touring too.
"Eoghan is a good friend, I really care about him. I have heard he has a new girlfriend but no, I am not seeing him.
"We are friendly and we speak to each other over the phone and we sent nice texts to each other over Christmas."
Looking forward to being reunited with the other fnalists for the X Factor Tour, Diana said: "It’s going to be great seeing Eoghan and all the others.
"I am so looking forward to it. It is really keeping me going"
Diana, whose dad Eddie lives in Blackburn, was at one point tipped as the favourite to win the X Factor.
But she was voted off, leaving winner Alexandra, boy band JLS and Eoghan to battle it out.
"I have been busy ever since," said the teenager who featured almost daily in the national tabloid press during her stint on the show.
"I have been travelling around the country doing shows. I am enjoying it so much but it has been so nice to come home."
