The sky’s the limit for Bradford’s teenage X Factor star Zayn Malik following last night’s nail-biting final which saw he and his bandmates finish third in the TV contest.

PR Guru Max Clifford told the Telegraph & Argus that Zayn, 17, and his One Direction bandmates are set for a stellar year of success.

Mr Clifford said: “They now have the chance for an absolutely amazing year.”

One Direction were put together by X-Factor creator and music business supremo Simon Cowell from five individual singers, and as mentor he guided them to the weekend’s star-studded final, where they faced off against solo singers Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson and eventual winner Matt Cardle.

The five-piece group looked dejected as host Dermot O’Leary revealed the initial result of the viewers’ vote.

Simon Cowell said: “I’m absolutely gutted for them, but for everyone who’s bothered to pick up the phone over the past few weeks, I really appreciate it.

“All I can say is, this is just the beginning for these boys.”

One Direction have picked up a massive following, especially Zayn, the Tong High School student from East Bowling, whose smouldering model looks have won him an army of admirers.

Mr Clifford said: “Simon Cowell has faith in them and when he gets behind someone then the sky’s the limit for them.” With fame suddenly thrust upon the teenagers, they’ll need a lot of looking after to keep their feet on the ground, said Mr Clifford.

He said: “The important thing is to make sure that someone’s looking after them every step of the way. They need to keep grounded and they won’t want to be seen as brash or flash – it’s who the lads are that has made them popular.

“They’ll be guided as to what the right and wrong choices are for them when it comes to making records, all these factors will be carefully considered to make sure they have real, sustainable success.

“If Simon Cowell is involved with them then they’ll absolutely have a strong support network.”

He pointed to the example of Susan Boyle who shot to stardom from obscurity in her little Scottish village after appearing on another Cowell venture, Britain’s Got Talent.

Mr Clifford said: “Susan Boyle had massive protection and care, and One Direction are going to need the same sort of treatment.”

And the next stage of Zayn’s stardom could be international success. Mr Clifford said: “With Simon Cowell looking after them, he’ll be looking to break them in America, which is obviously the biggest music market in the world.”

He also said that Zayn, as a young Muslim in the pop world, could become a role model for young people in the Bradford community – which he said could bring its own huge responsibilities. He said: “Zayn, along with his bandmates has tremendous promise.”

And could Zayn become a teenage millionaire? “Mr Clifford said: “For that to happen One Direction would have to make £5 million… we’d have to wait and see on that.”

Zayn was living in the X-Factor house up to the weekend’s final.

His mother Tricia, his father Yaser and his three sisters live in East Bowling, and have been travelling down to London to watch him in the live X Factor shows every weekend.

Zayn has already told the T&A that whether One Direction won or not they were going to stick together as a band and probably move down to London together to aim for success in the music business.

He said: “The support from Bradford has been phenomenal.”

Last week One Direction made a surprise visit to Bradford where they signed autographs for screaming fans at the HMV store in Broadway.