A match made in X Factor heaven! Little Mix's Perrie Edwards 'dating One Direction's Zayn Malik'

By Sarah Bull

Last updated at 7:42 AM on 1st December 2011

It's a match made in reality television heaven - Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards has apparently started dating One Direction heartthrob Zayn Malik.

The pair are said to have started seeing each other after sharing a steamy encounter following One Direction's performance on The X Factor last month.

They were also spotted cuddling up when One Direction and Little Mix both filmed the video to the show's charity single last weekend.

A match made in X Factor heaven! Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards is apparently dating One Direction's Zayn Malik

However, news of Zayn, 18, and Perrie's relationship is unlikely to please his bandmate Niall Horan, who has also reportedly been flirting with Perrie.

A source told The Sun: 'Zayn has got in there first but Niall is obsessed with her too.

'They met her on the video shoot and have both been trying to win her over.'

Glamour girls: Perrie with her Little Mix bandmates at the X Factor secret gig in London last night

Competition: Zayn's bandmate Niall Horan was also interested in Perrie

But Zayn and Perrie, 18, are said to be keen to keep their relationship as private as possible for now, with the source added: 'They plan to come out as a couple after The X Factor has finished.'

In an interview with Look magazine earlier this week, Perrie remained quiet about her current relationship status, but did reveal: 'I broke up with my boyfriend after The X Factor started. I think I did the right thing.'

Zayn is no stranger to dating a fellow X Factor contestant, having split from last year's runner-up Rebecca Ferguson earlier this year.

Rebecca had faced much criticism for dating Zayn, who, at 18, was six years her junior.

But the reason behind the split is said to be their careers and they are both rumoured to have realised being unattached would be better at this point in time.

Belting it out: The girls looked angelic on last weekend's X Factor

Rebecca said: ‘I’m happy I’ve decided to be single.

'My children, my family and my career are now my world', the Sunday Mirror reported.

Perrie last night joined her Little Mix bandmates at a secret X Factor gig held at the Talk Talk store in London's Soho.