Zayn Malik has revealed why he left One Direction in the singer's first interview in six years. 

Speaking to Alex Cooper on her podcast Call Her Daddy, the 30-year-old said he took time away from interviews because of how "overexposed" the band had been.

Malik was the first member to leave One Direction in 2015, citing "stress" and saying he wanted to be a "normal 22-year-old".

But on the podcast he revealed there was more behind his decision.

His bandmates had refused to sign new contracts so he decided to "jump the gun".

"I was like, 'I'm just going to get out of here, I think this is done'," he said.

"I completely selfishly wanted to be the first person to go and make my own record."

He added: "There was obviously underlying issues within our friendships, too.

"We'd got sick of each other if I'm being completely honest."

| One Direction pictured in 2014. Pic: AP

Malik also opened up about fatherhood. He has a two-year-old daughter with his ex-girlfriend, supermodel Gigi Hadid.

He said she was the reason for him doing the interview: "Since I've had my daughter, the main thing in my mind is trying to be a good example to her.

"I used to get a lot of anxiety around having a conversation like this. And I want her to be able to look at me and be like, 'Yo, my dad's doing this'."

Malik and Hadid have been co-parenting since their daughter was one.

Their split came amid allegations Malik had shoved Hadid's mother in an altercation. He denied the allegations but filed a "no contest" plea to four counts of harassment, saying he had done so to protect his daughter's privacy.

On the podcast, he didn't want to "get into a negative back and forth" with Hadid's mother that his daughter would later read online.

"I believe I dealt with it in the best way, an amicable, respectful way, and that's all that needs to be said," he said.