October 19th 2024.
Britain's Got Talent auditions resumed after the tragic news of Liam Payne's death, with the judges returning to their jobs. However, Simon Cowell was absent as he took time to grieve. Bruno Tonioli was brought back to cover for Cowell, who had been temporarily replaced by KSI due to his commitments on Dancing With The Stars in the US. The 68-year-old judge appeared somber but still took the time to wave to fans and photographers as he arrived at the Blackpool Winter Gardens. The judging panel, including Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and guest judge KSI, along with hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, are all back to continue with the programme.
The auditions had been cancelled following the tragic news of Payne's death at the age of 31, after falling off a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The next day, the auditions were postponed, with Applause Store, the company in charge of tickets, announcing the decision and apologizing for any inconvenience caused. However, the series has now resumed filming.
Cowell and Payne first met in 2008 during The X Factor auditions when the latter was just 14 years old. While Payne didn't make it to the live shows at the time, Cowell advised him to take a break and return in two years. Following this advice, Payne went on to become a member of the highly successful boy band, One Direction, alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles. The group was signed to Cowell's label, Syco Entertainment.
Cowell recently shared a heartfelt tribute to Payne on Instagram, expressing his devastation and heartbreak over the news. He also described the singer as kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, and focused, and how he always had a genuine love for his fans. The two had recently met up to reminisce about their time together, and Cowell even mentioned how his son, Bear, had a similar twinkle in his eye like Payne.
In addition to his successful music career, Payne also credited Cowell for helping him find love with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl. The couple dated for two years and welcomed their son, Bear, into the world together. Payne had jokingly mentioned to Cowell about how hot Cheryl was, and the music mogul had predicted that she would be the next Mrs. Payne. The two had met at Simon's house, with Niall Horan revealing that Cheryl had a crush on Payne, causing her to turn red and leave the room.
The Britain's Got Talent auditions have resumed, and the judges are back to their jobs, but Payne's absence will always be felt. His talent and positive impact on those around him will always be remembered, and he will continue to live on through his music and the memories he has left behind. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our entertainment team. We would love to hear from you.
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