Speaking about Malik, Tomlinson said: “Other than maybe Niall, there is no one who is prouder of the band and the songs we created than me. But while what I did with One Direction is relevant, it doesn’t define who I am and I don’t struggle to make that dissociation.”

On whether Malik had been disrespectful to the band, Tomlinson said: “Yeah, but I can understand it.

“We have a lot of situations where we’re sat in interviews and if you’re in a certain mood you might run your mouth.

“The older you get the more you can tell if these things actually carry any malice or if they’re just a prod in the back. That’s life, innit? Sometimes people chat s**t and that’s the reality.”

Tomlinson said there “might be a day where I wake up and think, ‘Ok, I want right that wrong,’ but not yet,’” meaning it looks unlikely he will get close with Malik or heal any of those wounds any time soon.