Dermot O’Leary, the host of X-Factor, has paid an emotional tribute to Liam Payne the day after the former One Direction singer’s death.
Payne died after falling from his hotel balcony in Argentina.
He was aged just 31 and left behind his son Bear, who is seven.
O’Leary was first up on This Morning after Kat Deeley and Ben Shephard opened with the news that Payne had died last night, October 16.
O’Leary appeared on This Morning (ITV)
The X Factor host met Payne when he was just 14, when the singer first audition for the singing talent show.
Payne came back two years later after judge Simon Cowell decided he was too young, and was grouped with what would become the other members of One Direction.
O’Leary reminisced over his time on X Factor, saying: “You get to know the families so well in such a short period of time.
“His mum and dad were just adorable. They were never pushy, this was very much his dream. He loved, he just loved to sing.”
He went on to pay an emotional tribute, saying after his death he ‘just thought of his family’.
O’Leary went on to say: “I thought of his son and then I thought of his parents. I mean, no parent should have to bury their son or their daughter.”
He then added: “Obviously our thoughts and our prayers, our candles are half-lit for his family. That goes without saying”.
O’Leary was a host on X-Factor (ITV)
O’Leary was full of praise for the late singer, noting in particular his choice of song for his X-Factor audition at 14, with Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra.
He said: “He was both wise and sort of a young soul at the exactly same time. He had this old bones about him, like his musical taste.
“Yet, he was always quite beautifully wide-eyed about the world and his place in it. It’s such a huge amount of pressure to be put on young shoulders.”
O’Leary’s is the latest in a sea of tributes from celebrities and fans after the shocking news of the passing of Liam Payne.
One Direction came third on the X Factor in 2010 but the band, made up of Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan.
Liam Payne shot to fame as part of One Direction (Fred Duval via Getty Images)
The band would go on to international success, becoming one of the highest selling boybands of all time.
Malik would leave the group in 2015, before the remaining members would go on indefinite hiatus in 2016.
The official X Factor account was one of many to pay tribute to Payne after his death, saying: “We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne.
“He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world.
“Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him.”
