That’s the thing with Leona; she doesn’t seem to want to elaborate much on anything.

In the three years since she was catapulted into the limelight by X Factor, we’ve learned very little about Leona. She’s from Hackney in East London and has a long-term boyfriend, Lou Al-Chamaa, whom she’s known since she was 10. Her dad, Joe, is of Guyanese descent, while her mum, Marina, hails from Penarth, in South Wales.

Leona says herself she can be quite shy and it takes a while to get to know her, and maybe her reticence to spill the beans stems from that.

She opens up marginally more when asked about her mentor, Cowell.

“We’re really close, Simon and I,” she says. “I’m signed to his label so he’s very involved in my music. People need to realise Simon’s very passionate about music and real songs with real melodies.

"He always wants a big vocal presence, he's passionate about that. That's what makes us work well as a team, I know where I want to be and he supports that."

LEONA LEWIS plays the Echo Arena on May 31. Tickets £28.50-£42.50, plus booking and handling fee. Tel: 0844 800 3680.