When Simon Cowell and his fellow X Factor judges chose the young singers to form One Direction, he was sure it was Liam Payne.

“He was the standout candidate,” the music mogul said confidently as a Polaroid of the then 16-year-old was placed over the smiling, fresh-faced faces Harry Styles, Niall Horan And Louis Tomlinson. Zayn Malik soon followed. The judges agreed that Payne could be the “ringleader.”

Footage of the trial shows that the emergence of a pop phenomenon appears to have only taken a few minutes.

“I’m in a boy band” Payne he excitedly told his father in a text message after learning he had been selected. At the time, he had no idea how his life would change.

One Direction didn't win that X factor in 2010. That title went to Matt Cardle, with Rebecca Ferguson coming in second. Aside from the hype surrounding the series, few contestants, winners or not, have had lasting success. Leona Lewis, Little Mix, Olly Murs and Alexandra Burke were among the few to shed the reality TV label and pursue sustainable careers.

But CowellHis group outshone every other act that appeared on the show before or since. The heady days of boy band mania in the 1990s and early 2000s with Take That, Boyzone, Backstreet Boys and NSync were over, and One Direction more than filled the void.

They may have been “the cutest boy band ever,” as X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger described them during the selection process, but they were also five talented young singers who sang well-crafted, catchy pop songs.

Since the release of her debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” in 2011, her rise seemed inevitable. Payne co-wrote songs on all of her albums.

One Direction went on to become one of the biggest pop groups in the world, releasing five albums, undertaking four world tours and starring in a film. However, just five years after their formation in 2010, Malik left the group and the band announced their indefinite hiatus the following year.

Payne, who was born in Wolverhampton, wanted to be a singer from a young age. His first audition for X Factor was in 2008 when he was 14, two years before he was accepted into One Direction.

“I think about singing all the time,” he told the cameras following the hopefuls before singing “Fly Me To The Moon” to the judges. Cowell liked him and got him through the first round, but ultimately decided he was too young.

As a solo star, he signed with Capitol Records, had hits like “Strip That Down” and “Get Low” and collaborated with a number of high-profile artists. But as his former bandmates enjoyed varying degrees of solo success – styles reaching similar heights as One Direction as independent artists – Payne seemed to struggle to find his place.

After realizing his childhood dream, his path followed the path of so many stars who achieve stratospheric fame at a young age. In interviews, he spoke openly about his struggles with mental health and alcohol addiction.

“In certain circumstances I'm very lucky to still be here, which I've never really shared with anyone,” he told former soldier and TV personality Ant Middleton on his Straight Talking show in 2019.

“I can't go into it too deeply because I don't know how I feel. To be honest, I still haven’t come to terms with it.”

He continued: “There are times when you are attacked by this level of loneliness and people every day. Every now and then you ask yourself: “When will this end?” That almost killed me a few times.”

In an interview with Diary Of A CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett, he described how he struggled with alcoholism and hit “rock bottom” at the height of his success with One Direction. He continued to have problems with alcohol during the pandemic, but in 2023 he shared a YouTube video telling fans that he was six months sober after spending almost 100 days in rehab in the US.

In his personal life, he had a relationship with the Girls Aloud star Cherylafter first meeting her as a teenager during her first X Factor audition when she was a judge in 2008. “I like you, I think you're really cute,” she famously told him at the time, saying he had charisma and a “cheeky” style as he winked at her. They announced the birth of their son Bear in March 2017, but separated the following year.

At the time of his death, he was in a relationship with American model and influencer Kate Cassidy, who had been with him in Argentina to see a concert by his former bandmate Horan. He was criticized on social media for his behavior on the show, leading to fans circulating old clips of him. However, Footage he released just hours before his death seemed to indicate that he was enjoying his trip.

Read more:
Stars pay tribute to Liam Payne
He had the X factor – but less support than the stars today

Payne's death at the age of 31 is a devastating end to a young life, and although the exact circumstances are not yet known, some musicians have called for more support behind the scenes in their tributes. As documentaries about big stars like Taylor Swift, Lewis Capaldi and Selena Gomez have shown in recent years, behind the glamor and wealth, the reality of fame can often be harsh and often lonely.

In 2020, to mark One Direction's 10th anniversary, Payne shared a screenshot of the text message he sent to his father telling him he was in a boy band all those years ago. “What a journey,” he wrote. “Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years and thank you to the guys who shared this with me.”

Speculation about a reunion has increased over the years. If it does happen in the future, it will tragically happen without Payne. The young star who always wanted to sing.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed can contact Samaritans for help on 116 123 or in the UK email [email protected]. In the US, call your nearest Samaritans location or 1 (800) 273-TALK