Liam Payne - from boyhood dreams on X Factor to the biggest boyband in the world - fans mourn tragic death

The music world is in mourning after the loss of Liam Payne, the former One Direction superstar who was forging his own direction in life after the band's hiatus. Liam's death, aged 31, was announced on Wednesday, October 16, after a tragic fall from the hotel where he had been staying in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It was only last month that Liam had been enjoying time back on home turf in the UK with his new musical role - starring in Netflix's big budget talent show Building The Band. It would see him reuniting with Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger and joining other stars including Kelly Rowland and AJ McLean for auditions held here in Manchester at the Aviva Studios to help the next generation of stars take their first steps in the showbiz world.

It appeared to be a new chapter in the story of Liam's life - a life that had enriched so many with his vocal ability, performances and sheer star appeal.

READ MORE: Liam Payne - tributes pour in from across the world after death of One Direction star

Liam was just 14 years old when he took his first steps to making his music dreams come true. The young schoolboy from Wolverhampton would become one of the youngest ever auditionees on ITV's The X Factor, hopeful of becoming the nation's new pop idol.

His first audition back in 2008 would not go on to realise that dream - it was not to be his moment that year. But he impressed the panel of judges, including Simon Cowell and Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole, who would go on to have an even more significant role to play in his later life.

He made it through to the judges' houses stage of the competition but didn't quite make the cut - although Cowell had more than spotted the X Factor in the young Liam. He made the fateful decision to urge him to come back to audition when he was 16 and try again.

Determined Liam would go on to do exactly that, returning to the ITV show in 2010 to belt out Cry Me A River and immediately impressing the new panel of judges, who would include Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger. He won through as a solo star, but at her suggestion, the judges decided to mix things up and assemble five of the promising young male singers from the auditions to form a group for the talent competition.

It was then that Liam would join up with the young Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan to become One Direction. They gained popularity on the live rounds of the show, and came in a respectable third in the final - losing out to eventual winner Matt Cardle in 2010 and runner-up Rebecca Ferguson.

But the five lads had little idea just what an impression they were about to make on a world stage. After the show ended they were swiftly signed up by Cowell's Syco Entertainment, and their debut single in 2011, What Makes You Beautiful, would go on to become a global smash hit.

By March 2012 they were to become the first UK group to ever have their debut reach the number one slot in the United States. One Direction had well and truly made it. Chart-topping songs, albums, toys and a film were all to swiftly follow as Liam and the band would watch their star ascend across the globe.

But by 2015 cracks had begun to show - the pressure of life in the band was too much for Zayn who would announce he was leaving One Direction. It would see Liam step up to take many of Zayn's musical parts in the songs.

He was also one of the principal songwriters in the band, credited with co-writing more than half the songs on the band's third and fourth albums.

His musical creativity was clear to see - he would embark on a host of solo projects and collaborations with major music producers and DJs and fellow songwriters after the band announced that they would be going on a hiatus in 2016 to work on individual projects.

2016 would also see another huge moment in Liam's life - his romance with former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole would hit the headlines as two music superstars united. They welcomed their beloved baby son, called Bear, in March 2017, although the couple's relationship was to end in 2018.

Liam's solo career hit the ground running in 2017, scoring a big hit with Strip it Down, his collab with Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac and Quavo.

Further collabs with Rita Ora and Boogie Wit Da Hoodie were to follow as Liam allowed his creativity to flourish, although his debut album was not the commercial success that had perhaps been expected.

He had announced in 2023 that his second solo album was underway, and in March this year he released his single Teardrops co-written with N*Sync's JC Chasez.

He had been in Argentina with his girlfriend of two years, Kate Cassidy, at the time of his tragic death.

Tributes have been pouring in for the star from across the world after the shocking announcement of his passing on Thursday night.

As the news began to spread, it has left millions upon millions of his One Direction fans across the world utterly, utterly heartbroken.

RIP Liam Payne, 29 August 1993 - 16 October 2024