Simon Cowell halts Britain's Got Talent auditions following Liam Payne's death

Following quality of Payne’s death, Cowell, who helped signifier One Direction connected 2010’s X Factor, made the determination to telephone disconnected the auditions successful Blackpool.

A spokesperson for the ITV programme’s producer, Freemantle UK, said: “Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we person decided to postpone the Britain’s Got Talent auditions.

“Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, household and each who loved him.”

A telephone volition beryllium made aboriginal astir whether the remainder of this week’s auditions volition besides beryllium postponed.

Applause Store, the summons organiser for production, released a connection saying: “Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today's auditions successful Blackpool. We apologize for immoderate inconvenience this whitethorn cause.”

Auditions for the caller bid of Britain’s Got Talent began connected Tuesday successful beforehand of judges Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI.

Holden, 53, paid tribute to Payne connected societal media, sharing a heartfelt connection on with an aged photograph of the two.

She penned alongside the image: “Such an atrocious tragedy. Sending emotion to his household and each those who loved him.”

Payne plunged to his decease from the 3rd level of the Casa Sur Hotel successful the Palermo neighbourhood, according to authorities.

The circumstances astir his decease are inactive being investigated.

A transcript of an exigency telephone placed by the edifice revealed it had requested assistance owed to a impermanent “drunk with drugs and alcohol”.

The idiosyncratic said: “We request to nonstop idiosyncratic with urgency due to the fact that I don't cognize if the guest's beingness is successful information due to the fact that helium is successful a country with balcony, and we are acrophobic helium could bash thing that threatens life."

One Direction - which besides consisted of members Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson - became 1 of the biggest popular groups successful the satellite with 5 albums and 4 satellite tours aft being enactment unneurotic by Simon Cowell connected the X Factor successful 2010.

The set went connected indefinite hiatus aft Malik announced his departure successful 2015 - and went connected to forge solo careers.

Wolverhampton-born Payne is survived by his parents, Karen and Geoff, his sisters Nicola and Ruth, arsenic good arsenic his seven-year-old lad Bear from a erstwhile narration with Girls Aloud vocalist Cheryl, 41.