Gay X Factor winner Joe McElderry says he doesn't take homophobic abuse on the internet 'too seriously'.

The singer, who won the UK version of the talent show in 2009, came out as a result of his Twitter account being hacked but told the Sunday Sun that anti-gay taunts on the social network doesn't bother him.

'I think Twitter is great because you get a lot of response from it,' he said.

'When it comes to the trolls, I try not to take it all too seriously, good or bad.'