Diana Vickers has been invited to Sunday dinner at Cheryl Cole’s house as consolation for missing out on a place in The X Factor final.

The 17-year-old singer — who was voted out of the show in an emotional semi-final — revealed the Girls Aloud star has asked her round to discuss her future plans over an informal meal.

Vickers said: “Cheryl told me she was proud of me, she believed in me. I’m going to her house tonight for Sunday dinner which will be lovely and we’re just going to talk about everything, so I’m looking forward to that.”

The blonde from Blackburn had at one point been the bookmakers’ favourite to win the show but was not feeling negative about being voted off.

She said: “I’m feeling all right. I had a little cry in the car this morning because my song came on the radio but I’m feeling fine. I’m moving on to bigger and better things hopefully.

“Last night was the most incredible, emotional night of my life and I’ll remember that night for ever. It was sad but there was loads of positive energy and I think I took it really, really well. I’m just so happy for everybody else.”

During the show Vickers — who has a boyfriend, 18-year-old student Chris Jones — was linked to X Factor contestant Eoghan Quigg (16). The pair insist they are just close friends, but when Diana was voted off on the live show, an emotional Quigg ran on to the stage during her farewell song and embraced her, sobbing “I love you”.

Vickers said: “He just said he was proud of me and that he was going to miss me. That’s it really. I loved it. They all came on with Eoghan and I loved it. When I think about that moment it looks like a Kodak moment that I’ll have forever.”

Asked if she was shocked at Quigg’s emotional reaction, she said: “Yeah, but we’re so close and either way, if it had been me going, it would be the same thing.

“I think part of the reason he was crying was because he was so happy because he’d got through as well and he didn’t know what to do with himself.”

Vickers said her boyfriend Jones was watching in the audience, adding: “He said he was proud of me. Everybody was there. I was like ‘Smile! I’m going to come home and it’s going to be fine’.”