Simon Cowell breaks cover for first time since Liam Payne’s tragic death and cancelling BGT auditions
SIMON Cowell has been seen for the first time since Liam Payne's death, looking solemn in the back of a car.
Simon Cowell, who famously formed Liam’s band One Direction, made a last minute decision this morning as he came to terms with the shock news.
Auditions were due to take place in Blackpool with the judges – Simon, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and KSI, all primed for filming.
A Fremantle UK spokesperson said: "Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we have decided to postpone the Britain’s Got Talent auditions. Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, family and all who loved him."
Tragic Liam Payne died instantly from multiple injuries on Wednesday evening, aged 31, including a fractured skull after plunging from a third-floor hotel balcony.
Simon has now been spotted being driven in the back of a car, with dark sunglasses on.
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The music mogul held a hand up to his face and looked deep in thought as he was chauffeured.
Applause Store, who organised tickets for the BGT filming, also revealed it would not be going ahead today, writing : “Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today's auditions in Blackpool. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Amanda, who is a judge on the show, wrote today: “Such an awful tragedy . Sending love to his family and all those who loved him.”
Filming for the talent show kicked off on Tuesday, with the help of Ant and Dec.
YouTube star KSI has stepped in for Bruno Tonioli, who is currently filming Dancing With The Stars in the US.
Tragic death
Last night shockwaves spread throughout the world as news broke that Liam has died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
Liam died instantly from multiple injuries including a fractured skull caused by his fall.
Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said medical teams were unable to save the former One Direction heart-throb when they reached the scene.
Inside Liam Payne and Cheryl's romance
By Joanne Kavanagh
IT was a romance that caused a media storm.
One Direction hunk Liam Payne was in a relationship ship X Factor judge Cheryl.
The pair - who have a ten-year age gap - got together while Cheryl was going through her divorce to second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini at the beginning of 2016.
Despite their age difference they looked completely infatuated with each other when the couple made their red carpet debut at Cannes in May 2016.
Liam even paid a sweet tribute to his girlfriend by getting a tattoo of her eye on his arm.
In 2017, Liam and Cheryl welcomed their baby.
Cheryl posted a picture on Instagram of Liam cradling their 7lb 9oz baby.
She captioned the sweet snap with: "On Wednesday Liam and I became parents to an incredibly beautiful, healthy baby boy looking like a dream."
One pal told The Sun: "Cheryl gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday, and both are doing well.
"Liam didn't leave Cheryl's side throughout the birth, and like her, he is besotted with their new son and can't wait to take him home.
"This is the perfect Mother's Day for Cheryl."
The Sun revealed in May 2017, that the couple named their son Bear.
They decided on the unusual name after spending a week getting to know him.
Bear adopted his One Direction star dad's surname, so he is called Bear Payne.
A source revealed: "Cheryl and Liam wanted to get to know [their son] before they decided on the name.
"They didn't have the name Bear before the birth.
"But they'd been thinking of a name since meeting him and they just felt it suited him."
In February 2018, The Sun broke the story that Liam's constant travelling to promote his solo career had placed a huge strain on the relationship, and they were ready to split.
That same month, Cheryl declared that "none of it matters" as she shrugged off questions about her crumbling romance with Liam during a BBC Breakfast interview.
They then put on a united front together at the Brit Awards, where they smiled on the red carpet and Cheryl joked about the couple's 'safe word'.
However, by July 2018, Cheryl and Liam made the decision to split.
A pal told The Sun: "Cheryl and Liam worked really hard on their relationship – they had troubles earlier this year and were able to get through them.
"But they're in different stages of their lives and, after a lot of careful thought, came to a decision that it's best for everyone if they do go their separate ways."
Liam and Cheryl then released a statement confirming their break-up.
They posted a message on social media that read: "We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make.
"We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together."
It comes as:
- One Direction fans held candlelit vigils outside the hotel
- The singer posted on Snapchat just minutes before his death
- Rylan Clark and Dermot O'Leary paid tribute to the singer
- His ex-fiancée Maya Henry broke her silence after his death
- Liam's girlfriend Kate Cassidy's message before he died
- Harry Styles' mum pays heartbreaking tribute to the star
According to police in Buenos Aires, officers were initially responding to reports "of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol".
Pictures showed shocked fans gathering outside the hotel after police cordoned off the area, with forensic investigators in white protective suits and blue gloves seen entering and leaving.
Fans were photographed lighting candles and leaving flowers at the side of the road in an impromptu vigil as they paid tribute to the music star.
Liam and Simon's friendship
Liam previously spoke of his relationship with music mogul Simon and claimed that Simon had created the boy band around him.
He said he "started with my face, and then worked around the rest. I was the honorary member of One Direction. He told me that story himself at his house."
He also recalled how Simon played a part in his romanced with Cheryl, which led to them having a son called Bear.
"I went to Simon’s house, and made a joke about how hot Cheryl was," he explained.
"Simon was like, "I know who’s going to be the next Mrs Payne!""
Liam continued: "Then I was in a bar and Niall came in and told me that Cheryl liked me."
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"I was like "Cheryl? Cheryl?" Niall was in Simon’s dressing room, Simon said my name, she went red and left."
"So I hit her up."
