Why singer Liam Payne's death is hitting One Direction fans hard

Pop star Liam Payne was just 31 when he died but he had been famous for half his life.

As a member of One Direction – the mega successful boy band that emerged from the X-factor TV show – he experienced the sort of high-octane, global fame that’s packaged and controlled in a way only the pop industry can create. He grew from his One Direction persona as a cheeky chappie boy next door into a complicated adult.

After One Direction broke up, he became a solo artist maintaining his connection with One Direction fans – many felt that they had grown up with the Wolverhampton-born singer – and winning new ones.

Payne, a father of a little boy with former partner Cheryl Tweedy, was active on social media where he had a huge following; he posted a happy photo on Snapchat just an hour before his death.

Payne died instantly following a fall from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires; he had been in the Argentinian city to see his former bandmate Niall Horan in concert.

Fionnuala Jones, cultural commentator and podcaster, explains the scale of One Direction’s success; Payne’s impact on pop culture, and why his tragic death made world headlines.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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