Zayn Malik only stayed with One Direction for the sake of "other people's happiness".

He explained: "You know, I did try to do something that I wasn't happy doing for a while, for the sake of maybe other people's happiness.

"And that was mainly the fans. And I only ever tried to do it for the fans, and it was only ever for them.

"And basically, I'm only upset (because) I feel like I may have let them down in some sort of way.

"That's the main thing that I don't want to happen.

"It's not that I've turned my back on them or anything, it's just that I just can't do that anymore because it's not real to me."

Zayn also denied claims there has been tension within the band - which also includes Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan - and predicted they will continue making music together for some time to come.

He told The Sun newspaper: "They still want to do it for a while, so they're going to carry on doing what they want to do.

"And I think they're going to do ok for a while, do you know what I mean?

"I think they're going to be cool."

What's more, Zayn said he's pleased to have left the band in such harmonious circumstances.

He reflected: "That's why it's been really good for me, because I feel it's been a bit different to when other bands have broken up or when a member's left or whatever.

"My band has been really supportive. They've been really cool about it. And they understand that, you know, it's not real to me anymore."