Liam Payne funeral latest: One Direction star’s bandmates and girlfriend Kate Cassidy arrive at church
Pop star, who died in Buenos Aires last month, rose to fame with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson as a member of the chart-topping boyband
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Your support makes all the difference.One Direction star Liam Payne’s funeral is taking place today, with his family, closest friends and former bandmates attending the service at a church in Wolverhampton.
Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy and Girls Aloud singers Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, who were pictured wearing long black coats and sunglasses, were among the first mourners to arrive.
Payne’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik were also in attendance, along with TV presenter and actor James Corden, and BBC Radio host Scott Mills.
Dozens of locals and fans have also gathered outside the church to pay their final respects to the British singer, who died aged 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room on 16 October.
Malik, Horan, Tomlinson and Styles said they were “devastated” by his passing but “the memories we shared with him will be treasured forever”.
For years, Payne was one of the biggest names in pop, having shot to fame with his One Direction bandmates after forming on The X Factor in 2010. During their five-year career, they sold 70 million records and achieved four No 1 singles and four No 1 albums.
Follow the latest updates below:
BBC Radio 2 host Scott Mills has arrived ahead of the funeral of Liam Payne in Buckinghamshire.
The presenter, who spent a lot of time with One Direction in the early days of their career, wore a black long coat over dark trousers for the service.
Former professional footballer Robbie Keane and broadcaster Adrian Chiles were also amongst the mourners gathering to pay their last respects to Payne.
Liam Payne’s former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson have all arrived for the pop singer’s funeral today.
Styles was accompanied by his friend, actor and TV presenter James Cordon. The pair arrived at St Mary's Church in a BMW and were dressed in black.
They went straight inside the church.
Harry Styles’s tribute to Liam Payne
As well as the joint tribute with his surviving One Direction bandmates, Harry Styles shared a personal message from his Instagram following Payne’s death.
“I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing,” he wrote.
“His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.
“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectiou. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.
“My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did.”
Harry Styles pictured outside church for Liam Payne’s funeral
Jamie Scott, architect behind some of One Direction’s biggest hits, arrives at Liam Payne’s funeral
Jamie Scott has arrived at Liam Payne’s funeral. One Direction fans will recognise him as the writer and producer behind some of One Direction’s biggest hits - he is the only collaborator to have worked on every one of their albums and helped them to transition from teen pop into a more mature sound.
Among the singles he co-wrote include “Story of My Life”, “Drag Me Down”, “Night Changes” and “Midnight Memories”, while he also collaborated with 1D’s members after their split in 2016, most notably with Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
Nicole Scherzinger says she is ‘heartbroken’ over Liam Payne in first interview since his death
Nicole Scherzinger said she is “heartbroken” over Liam Payne in her first live interview since his death.
The former X Factor judge also revealed how she wants people to remember the One Direction star as she paid an emotional tribute to him when she appeared on Good Morning America on Friday (25 October).
The 46-year-old said: “Liam and I were quite close.
“And so, yeah, I’m heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for Liam. I’m heartbroken for his family and his loved ones and his fans.
“Liam always led with his heart and with kindness, and I really hope that’s how he’ll always be remembered.”
The 31-year-old singer tragically died on 16 October after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
Nicole Scherzinger says she is ‘heartbroken’ over Liam Payne in live TV interview
Nicole Scherzinger said she is “heartbroken” over Liam Payne in her first live interview since his death. The former X Factor judge also revealed how she wants people to remember the One Direction star as she paid an emotional tribute to him when she appeared on Good Morning America on Friday (25 October). The 46-year-old said: “Liam and I were quite close. “And so, yeah, I'm heartbroken. I'm heartbroken for Liam. I'm heartbroken for his family and his loved ones and his fans. “Liam always led with his heart and with kindness, and I really hope that's how he'll always be remembered.” The 31-year-old singer tragically died on 16 October after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
IN PICTURES: Liam Payne’s girfriend Kate Cassidy among first mourners to arrive
PICTURES: Tributes to Liam Payne are laid in a park in his home town of Wolverhampton
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