Britain's Got Talent auditions postponed following Liam Payne's death

Simon Cowell has postponed Thursday’s 'Britain's Got Talent' auditions as a mark of respect following Liam Payne's death.

The 'BGT' boss, who is also a judge on the ITV talent show, made the last-minute decision to postpone auditions on Thursday (17.10.24), after the former One Direction singer tragically fell to his death in Buenos Aires on Wednesday (16.10.24), aged 31.

Applause store, who organise tickets for the filming of the series, announced: "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."

Simon and fellow 'BGT' judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI - who is temporarily standing in for regular panellist Bruno Tonioli - were due to shoot auditions in Blackpool on Thursday, just two days after filming for the new series got underway.

Liam shot to fame on 'The X Factor' in 2010 when judges Simon and Nicole Scherzinger formed boy band One Direction, comprising of the late star, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

It came two years after Liam first auditioned for 'The X Factor' in 2008, aged 14.

He impressed then-judges Simon, Cheryl, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh with a version of Frank Sinatra's 'Fly Me to the Moon', but he exited the competition at the Judges' Houses stage.

Liam was told by Simon to "come back in two years", and he did to huge success after becoming part of 1D.

Years later, Liam embarked on a relationship with former 'X Factor' judge and pop star Cheryl, and the pair had son Bear, seven, together.