KATCHING MY I: EXCLUSIVE: 'It is for good this time': Rita Ora SPLITS from boyfriend Ricky Hil to focus on new X Factor role

Saturday 18 July 2015

EXCLUSIVE: 'It is for good this time': Rita Ora SPLITS from boyfriend Ricky Hil to focus on new X Factor role

PUBLISHED: 21:56, 18 July 2015 | UPDATED: 22:45, 18 July 2015

The X Factor's newest judge, 24, and Tommy Hilfiger's son, 25, ended things mutually a couple of weeks ago as she focuses on her career in the UK - and friends say it's for good this time.

A source close to the singer confirmed to MailOnline on Saturday that the international popstar has been seeking support from close friends after they put an 'amicable' end to their one-year romance.

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Split: Rita Ora, seen here in February 2015, has split from long-term boyfriend Ricky Hil.

The source explained: 'Rita and Ricky have split for good this time. It is amicable between the two and they both made the decision to call it a day due to their work schedules.

'They've been on and off for a while. He's based in LA and she's based in London. Now that she's doing the X Factor and has her new album here, she will be here for the rest of the year. But he has commitments to his music career and fashion line overseas, too.'

Ricky and Rita first appeared to confirm their relationship status in August 2014, when she posted a picture picture of them holding hands on her Instagram page.

Though she never confirmed the relationship herself, Rita and Ricky have been virtually inseparable throughout the last year and continued an long-distance relationship to suit her global career.

Off for good: Rita and Ricky have been on and off during their one-year relationship but friends say the pair, picture here in June, are off for good

Rita Ora and on-off boyfriend Ricky Hill on date night

Confirming the news, another source added: 'Rita and Rich found it difficult to continue their relationship due to their ongoing work commitments.

'Rich is based in LA where he is working on his music and fashion line and Rita is in London working on X Factor and her music.'

'They both tried to make it work but their work schedules made it difficult. It has been an amicable split and they remain friends. '

'Rita has had her girlfriends rallying around her to support her. Her busy schedule with X Factor and finishing the new album has meant she has had to put her problems to one side and focus on work. It's been a welcome distraction.'

On and off: Rita is said to be seeking solace with friends after the close friends went separate ways

Fashion fans: Rita and Ricky, seen here in March, are both working on separate career projects; his fashion and hers music

Rita Ora sports unusual look with boyfriend at Hilfiger event

The relationship drama comes almost exactly two years after Rita's very public split from Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, which was played out over Twitter.

When he detailed the split via social media, the Hot Right Now singer was forced to add her own interpretation of events and said: 'I don't usually address speculation but I've had an incredible time w Calvin,& i will treasure the memories.

'I've moved on from this topic so i hope people will respect that and do the same. Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards.'

Famously, Rita and Calvin - who is now dating pop queen Taylor Swift - did not stay friends and instead fought for rights over the song that they collaborated on I Will Never Let You Down.

And Rita recently spectacularly claimed that she's never been able to stay friends with an ex-boyfriend.

Opening up to Sydney's Kyle & Jackie O on KIIS 1065 she said: 'There is a possibility you can be friends, but it's very rare in my opinion because you're always going to have that undertone of what happened.

'Some people can do that, I haven't experienced it yet,' Rita added, perhaps also referencing her messy split with Kim Kardashian's brother Rob.