Liam Payne: A teenager thrust into global boyband mania before solo artist fame

Liam Payne’s travel to stardom began erstwhile helium was conscionable 14 years aged astatine his lesser-known archetypal audition for The X Factor.

The Wolverhampton teen reached the judges’ location signifier and nary further successful 2008, but came backmost 2 years aboriginal arsenic Simon Cowell had asked.

At 16, Payne initially auditioned arsenic a solo enactment but was fixed a 2nd accidental to travel backmost arsenic portion of a radical astatine Bootcamp, forming what would go 1 of the endowment show’s biggest occurrence stories – One Direction.

The set – comprising of Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson – roseate to planetary fame contempt lone placing 3rd successful the show.

They became 1 of the biggest popular groups successful the satellite with 5 albums, 4 satellite tours, 1 movie and a memorable euphony video for Red Nose Day successful 2013 which featured past premier curate David Cameron happening upon them dancing successful beforehand of Number 10 Downing Street.

But six years aft they were formed, with much than 20 cardinal albums sold, the set were placed connected indefinite hiatus with Malik having already near successful 2015 to prosecute a solo career.

Marking One Direction’s 10th day successful 2020, Payne shared a screenshot of a substance connection helium sent to his begetter connected the time helium joined the group, reading: “I’m successful a boyband.”

“What a journey… I had nary thought what we were successful for erstwhile I sent this substance to my dada years agone astatine this nonstop clip the set was formed,” helium said.

In 2016, Payne signed a solo grounds woody with Capital Records UK.

He said astatine the clip helium was “really happy” to person signed with them, adding: “One Direction volition ever beryllium my family; I’m present excited to amusement what I tin bash arsenic a solo artist.”

Over his solo career, Payne released hits Strip That Down and Get Low.

Away from the workplace and stage, Payne entered into a narration with erstwhile Girls Aloud prima Cheryl, the brace having archetypal met connected The X Factor erstwhile she was a judge.

In March 2017, the mates announced the commencement of their lad Bear.

Proud caller begetter Payne shared a photograph of himself cradling a babe with acheronian hairsbreadth connected Instagram, with the caption: “I’m incredibly blessed to invited our caller babe lad into the world, it’s a infinitesimal that I volition ne'er hide for the remainder of my beingness and my favourite representation I person truthful far.”

The vocalist would spell connected to talk proudly of his lad successful the years to come, saying during 1 awards ceremonial that Bear “constantly inspires” him to beryllium a amended person.

In July 2018, Payne and Cheryl announced their divided aft two-and-a-half years together.

He opened up astir their separation successful the pursuing months, saying it was pugnacious to interruption up successful the nationalist spotlight and that announcing it was “like breaking up twice”.

In August 2020, Payne got engaged to American exemplary Maya Henry, but the brace divided during lockdown and announced the engagement had been breached disconnected successful June 2021.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Payne helped supply much than 360,000 meals to radical struggling arsenic a effect of the outbreak.

He donated to the Trussell Trust foundation to enactment much than 100 nutrient slope centres successful Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Sheffield, Nottingham and Bristol.

Born successful August 1993, Payne was often sick arsenic a young kid owed to issues with 1 of his kidneys.

In August past year, helium postponed his scheduled circuit of South America aft suffering from a “serious kidney infection”.