IT has been a whirlwind few months for X Factor heart-throb Tom Mann and his Stereo Kicks band mates.

But now back at home in Chandler’s Ford for Christmas the former football coach revealed the band has plenty to look forward to in the new year.

There is the X Factor live arena tour – which includes two dates at the BIC, for a start.

In the meantime the boys have been travelling on a tour bus round the country doing small gigs.

And, after a short Christmas break, there is talk of a meeting with Simon Cowell to discuss their future.

Chatting with me over a cup of tea, presents piled up under a Christmas tree, Tom is clearly happy to be back home ready to celebrate Christmas with his large family after ten weeks living in the X Factor House.

But he is desperately missing the many friends he made on the show. He has had time to reflect and admits he was “gutted” to miss out on the final when the band went to deadlock against singer Lauren Platt.

“Looking back we had a rocky start and I would have been happy with the top five or six, but then we got in our stride and really wanted to win and to be honest I was quite shocked when we got eliminated especially as Simon sent us home after he had been supporting us all along. But I don’t begrudge Simon as Lauren was a million times better in the sing-off.

“Incredibly when they revealed on the X-tra Factor which names the judges had placed in gold envelopes at the start of the show to win Simon, Louis and Cheryl had all put Stereo Kicks!”

Tom is thrilled that Ben Haenow won.

“I said at the start he’s the dark horse – not only is his voice amazing but he’s a normal sort of guy who drives a van and ladies love him.”

One of the problems the band had was their song choice that they rehearsed all week and changed at the last minute on several occasions.

“It happened a lot – I can’t put my finger on why it happened. On week two it changed three times! At the time I took it as a test of how we could handle change but it is hard to accommodate eight people.

“We’d rehearse on our own all week then on Friday we’d go for the sound check and the music team would then make a decision.

“I think we were put into a band of eight as an experiment and I think we showed it did work but I think it will work better outside of the X Factor in the live shows. One problem was that when we did the VTs (the short clips in which the acts got to talk about themselves/ be filmed doing other things) we only got a few seconds each to show what we were like as there were so many of us.

“Having different song themes each week meant I don’t think we ever had a week that we’d sing something we’d do in the real world. I think we just want to make a really good pop record and it’s hard to accomplish something that’s not cheesy.”

Tom revealed that having all eight boys living in one room was as messy as it was portrayed on TV – only worse!

“That mess they showed was genuine. I like to keep things tidy normally but the others don’t give a monkey’s! None of the band had lived away from home before. The washing machine and ironing board was untouched! I’d run out of clean clothes and have to buy new clothes – especially boxers and socks. It got to the point that we’d just pick up what was on the floor!”

All being cramped in eight bunk beds was an experience too!

“I need my sleep or I get moody but it was like being on a massive sleep-over! Casey and Jake would talk until 2am and Casey’s volume of chat doesn’t lower. Jay James and Stevie Ritchie would be able to hear us through the walls and would knock on the wall and tell us to keep it down!

Daily Echo:

Tom with Stereo Kicks

“But I wouldn’t change it for anything. The weekends were tiring. We’d get in at 2am and then be up at 7.30am to get to the studio. Usually everyone dragged themselves in on a Monday drained. I think people watching X Factor think you just turn up at 5pm and do the show.

"It’s actually draining. On the Saturday you have your make-up done at 11am and then you are dressed and ready to go. There is a lot of serious hanging around and you do a full dress rehearsal before you do the show. There isn’t actually much time during the week to practice your song.

“Stereo Kicks will continue. X Factor was just a platform and the hard work starts here.

“Our aim is to get into Simon’s office and get a record deal! When we were at the final we shook his hand and said thank you for the opportunity and for putting us together and he said ‘I’ll definitely be seeing you in my office in the new year!’”

Now looking forward to playing 40 dates on the X Factor tour Tom added: “It’s going to be amazing. It will be our first opportunity to really show what we are about.”

And how is he coping with all the female adulation?

“I do really like it! They are pretty crazy and we love doing all the social media stuff with them. When we were in the competition there were always girls waiting to see us at the stage door or outside hotels when it was cold and wet. You would start to recognise some of the faces.”

One Direction made sev eral visits to the X Factor studios and Tom met Louis and Niall several times who would come and watch their sound checks.

“Niall was unbelievably down to earth, and Louis. Harry had got something about him – he’s so cool and magnetic. He’s only my age but it absolutely fascinates me what has happened to them. Niall told me the only thing he regrets about his X Factor experience is he doesn’t think they enjoyed it enough. They were a bit younger than us and he said just enjoy it and don’t care what anyone thinks about you.”

So is there a best moment?

“It’s hard to pick a specific one. It’s a totally different world; it is a bubble. I miss being around everyone and being so involved. You’d wake up and be put in a car. There was no stress, no worry. Your hair and make-up would be done. Looking back it was the most amazing crazy world that you don’t actually get to see on TV. I don’t cry, but leaving the house, packing up I was an emotional wreck and saying goodbye to Ben.

“It was such an intense experience; you have no choice to get close to everyone. It does all feel like a dream but I miss being in it.”