One Direction fans mourn after Liam Payne found dead
Written by Cian Mortimer on 17th October 2024

Image: London Entertainment / Alamy Stock
Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died age 31, after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.
Emergency services said Payne fell into a courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighbourhood of the city.
Payne, who was from Wolverhampton, had a son, Bear, with Geordie star Cheryl Cole in 2017, and has always been popular in the North East.
In 2019 fans of the pop sensation flocked to HMV in Newcastle city centre, as he signed copies of his debut solo album.
The world-famous boy-band also visited Newcastle United in 2013.
Four of the pop quintet, including Liam Payne, had a kick-about in Benton with a Newcastle side featuring Hatem Ben Arfa.
Payne told the Newcastle Chronicle at the time: “I play at the back”.
He added “I’m one of the biggest lads in the world, so good luck getting past me! We’re all ready for it today, we’re all here to play.”
The boy-band, formed by Simon Cowell on the 2010 version of the X-Factor talent show, first visited the North East on their 2012 Up All Night tour.
The X Factor’s official account on X said today the 31-year-old was “immensely talented” and would “leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world”.
Payne appeared on the show and was put into a group with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik – and One Direction was born.
In the years that followed, the group played multiple concerts in the North East, including gigs at the Metro Radio Arena and the Stadium of Light.