James Arthur has credited his X Factor boss Simon Cowell for saving his career after he was blacklisted from the music industry for his reckless behaviour.
During an interview with Sarah-Jane Crawford at Free Radio Hits Live on Saturday, the Impossible hitmaker, 31, reflected on the moment he was resigned to music mogul Simon's record label Syco back in September 2016.
The musician, who won the ninth series of the ITV competition series in 2012, was dropped from Syco in 2014 after becoming embroiled in a series of controversies, including a row with fellow contestant Lucy Spraggan over the use of a homophobic slur.
Gratitude: James Arthur has credited his X Factor boss Simon Cowell for saving his career after he was blacklisted from the music industry for his reckless behaviour
When James won The Factor in 2012, it looked as though he had a promising career, with the star selling millions of records.
However, following a series of Twitter rants, the You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You singer was dropped from Simon's label in 2014 and things came to a grinding halt.
The Safe Inside musician got himself into entanglements with X Factor contestant Lucy, 27, over homophobic comments, lashed out at Rita Ora, 28, and became embroiled in an online spat with model Teddy Edwardes.
Another chance: During an interview at Free Radio Hits Live on Saturday, the Impossible hitmaker, 31, reflected on the moment he was resigned to music mogul Simon's record label Syco back in September 2016
Uh oh: The musician, who won the ninth series of the ITV competition series in 2012, was dropped from Syco in 2014 after becoming embroiled in a series of controversies
The Impossible singer was then signed by the James Grant management group — which looks after stars including Louis Tomlinson.
He apologised for all of his indiscretions and was subsequently asked to rejoin Simon's record label two years later.
Speaking about his 'miraculous comeback', Teesside native James told presenter Sarah-Jane, 35: 'I always say when I made the miraculous comeback. I’ll never forget the day, it was two and a half years ago and I was like, I’m done, I’m on the scrapheap.
Row: The singer engaged in a row with fellow X Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan (pictured in February) over the use of a homophobic slur
'That was September 2016 and I’m sitting there in my flat about to release this song and no labels in the UK would take it, I was blacklisted as
