He was initially eliminated from The X Factor at the age of 14, but when Liam Payne returned to audition two years later, Simon Cowell felt the Wolverhampton teenager was ready.

But whether anyone can truly be prepared for future fame is hard to say.

There was never any doubt that Liam had the talent – he made it through the audition, and although One Direction didn't come first on The X Factor in 2010, they won fans and were signed to Cowell's record company.

From there, the group went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, performing to hysterical fans around the world.

The latest from Liam Payne: Transcript of 911 call released

But this all happened in the 2010s, when due diligence standards were nowhere near as high as they are today.

Five young boys with almost overnight fame and the money and influence that came with it – today they would be receiving aftercare, financial advice and advice whether they wanted it or not.

Liam often spoke openly about his difficulties finding peace after landing on the A-list. He talked about drinking too much, told fans last year that he was in rehab, his ex-girlfriend recently accused him of sending her unwanted messages, and online trolls drew unflattering comparisons to “The Office” character David Brent.

As a tribute, Harry Styles' mother Anne Twist posted a broken heart emoji with the caption “Just a boy…”.

And in some ways, Liam, who died at age 31, and the rest of One Direction never had the opportunity to grow up – or at least not in a normal way.

From queuing up for an audition on national television to touring internationally, her story is something of a modern fairytale that feels a little dated at the same time.

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You just can't think of it that way anymore – television has changed, there are a lot more protections for those who participate in reality shows, there is a better understanding that overnight success comes with pitfalls, and better support for those who might face the lows that inevitably accompany the highs of fame.

Liam will always be remembered for having the