James Arthur secures his first number one album in eight years with Bitter Sweet Love as emotional singer locks himself in toilet and cries for an hour after success

James Arthur locked himself up and cried for an hour after securing his second number one album with Bitter Sweet Love on Friday.

Singer James, 35, who won reality singing show The X Factor in 2012, said: ‘I’m very emotional about this, I’ve been locked in a booth for the last hour.

‘Bitter Sweet Love is the official number one album in Britain this week, the best selling record of the week, which means so much to me.

“It’s been eight years since I last had a number one album, and I’ve been in the game for over a decade.

“I feel like this is symbolic of all the highs and lows; everything we’ve been through.

‘There is no ‘i’ in ‘team’. My management, my label, my friends and family, but especially my fans. You made this possible for me.

“I cannot thank you enough for your continued campaign and support; show up for me.

“My heart is full, thank you very much.”

Bitter Sweet Love also debuted at number seven on the Official Vinyl Album Chart and is the biggest record in terms of digital downloads this week, according to the Official Charts Company.

James’ other albums include 2013’s self-titled debut James Arthur, which peaked at number two, and 2016’s Back From The Edge, which went to number one.

He has also released You in 2019, which peaked at number two, and It’ll All Make Sense In The End in 2021, which went to number three.

The singer has had two hit singles in Britain: 2012’s Impossible and 2016’s Say You Won’t Let Go.

James, who is managed by Amanda Holden’s husband Chris Hughes, thanked him for his support after hitting number one with his new album.

The pop star said: ‘I felt the pain of everyone writing me off, but before I wrote this album a gentleman named Chris Hughes put me on the phone and asked me to give him a year to turn things around .

“I wasn’t convinced I was in the right position to achieve the goals I wanted to achieve, but I’m so glad I trusted my instincts and gave that man a chance because he kept his promise.”

James has also presented the 2022 BBC Three documentary James Arthur: Out Of Our Minds, in which he spoke about his experiences with depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

Coming in second after Bitter Sweet Love in this week’s official album chart is Ballad Of A Bystander by English indie rock group The Reytons, while Wall Of Eyes by rock band The Smile debuts at number three.

At number four is Stick Season by American singer Noah Kahan, and the album’s title track is at number one in the UK Singles Chart for the fifth week in a row.

Tom Odell’s Black Friday is at number five and is the English singer’s sixth studio album.

In the singles chart, Murder On The Dancefloor has retained its position at number two, behind Kahan’s chart-topping number.

The 2001 song received a new boost in popularity following the release of the Emerald Fennell-directed film Saltburn, with the catchy pop tune towards the end.

American singer Teddy Swims’ Lose Control is at number three, up three places since last week, and Jack Harlow’s Lovin On Me is at number four, having previously peaked at number one, following its 2023 release.

Behind Harlow’s offer lies the single Yes, And? from pop superstar Ariana Grande, who recently announced her new album Eternal Sunshine, due out this spring.

It comes after James said he was planning to make a surprise career change while taking a “few years” away from music.

After winning The X Factor in 2012, James became an overnight success, selling more than 30 million records worldwide.

But the singer hopes to try something new and take his professional life in a different direction.

Pop star James will release his fifth album Bitter Sweet Love on Friday, January 26, and he has one more release to complete as part of his record deal.

He hopes to take some time off before his next disc comes out and try his hand at acting.

James told it The sun: ‘I act a bit in my videos and I like that, but it has to be the right project.

‘At some point I would like to concentrate on acting for a few years and put music aside for a while.

‘I will do that after my next album.

“Then take a break and concentrate on my acting because I have another album on my recording contract.”

It comes after James was taken to hospital with kidney stones following the Pride of Britain Awards in October last year.

The star spoke about the ordeal on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden at the time, telling how he suffered during the star-studded event.

His pain started just before he reached the red carpet before swallowing paracetamol ahead of his performance on stage, which he barely managed to get through.

He explained: ‘It started right before I stepped on the red carpet, I was fully clothed and booted, I started feeling pain in my left side… crown jewel I will say.

‘What have I done here? Did I catch myself putting on my pants?

‘And this pain got worse and worse the further I got on the red carpet, I came back to the dressing room and I was rolling on the floor in pain and I thought, what have I done here, this is crazy?

‘I have taken paracetamol and cannot go home at the moment. I have to do this show. I was in 10/10 pain at that point. Anyway, when I’m on stage, this performance makes me cringe

Amanda then said, “You have accomplished an amazing feat that you never would have known!”

He replied: ‘It added to the whole… everyone complimented me on that performance.

‘I got off stage and thought: I have to go to the hospital, I went to the emergency room, there is a man poking my parts.

‘They did a scan and found a kidney stone, so I’ve been on heavy painkillers all week. Tomorrow I will have surgery to remove it. It added something to that performance.”

James previously admitted fame wasn’t all he was about when he previously admitted it was the ‘best and worst’ experience of his life.

James appeared on This Morning in August last year and opened up in what became a ‘pressure’ after previously describing how he has battled a long battle with depression and attempted suicide in the past.

Watching a clip back from when he won the ITV show, James admitted he found it ‘triggering’ to watch.

The star explained: ‘It was the best and worst experience of my life. It was a pressure pot. I struggled in the aftermath.

“When I see that… it’s given me this incredible career. But it was also traumatic.’

When asked if he had any advice for people entering TV talent competitions, he said: “There is no handbook for anyone.

‘I was plucked from oblivion. Most people on X Factor are like me: they come from nowhere, they’re not prepared for fame.

‘I wasn’t prepared for it, I wanted to become a singer-songwriter. Not to be famous or to be judged on that scale.”

He continued, “I guess I always thought I would get somewhere in music because I had an unwavering belief in my music.

‘I didn’t think X Factor would be my route. I ran out of money, my mother bribed me and said I’d give you a tenner if you auditioned for X Factor.

‘I am so grateful to Simon Cowell, who continues to give me opportunities. Without X Factor I wouldn’t have been able to break through, because you need money.

“I started with rock music, but to be known as a balladeer is great.”