During Thursday’s episode of This Morning, the ITV programme began with a heartfelt homage to former One Direction member Liam Payne.
The tragic news broke this week that the 31 year old had passed away after a fall from a third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina.
Following a poignant clip of Liam’s X Factor audition, presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley discussed the sad event with Dermot O’Leary, who had worked with Liam on the singing competition.
Visibly moved by the tragedy, Dermot expressed: “I just thought of his family, I thought of his son and then I thought of his parents. I mean no parent should have to bury their son or their daughter.”
“Obviously our thoughts and our prayers, our candles are half-lit for his family. That goes without saying.”, reports the Mirror.
Liam first tried out for X Factor at 14, but was told he wasn’t ready; he returned at 16 and was put into One Direction, which despite coming third in 2010, soared to international fame.
Dermot reminisced about the X-Factor days, saying: “You get to know the families so well in such a short period of time. His mum and dad were just adorable. They were never pushy, this was very much his dream. He loved, he just loved to sing.”
He recalled the last encounter with Liam at Soccer Aid, remembering him fondly.
He said: “He was both wise and sort of a young soul at the exactly same time. He had this old bones about him, like his musical taste.”
“Yet, he was always quite beautifully wide-eyed about the world and his place in it. It’s such a huge amount of pressure to be put on young shoulders.”
Ben Shephard informed ITV viewers that the Argentinian authorities had announced they would carry out an autopsy and look into the events leading up to his demise.
Following the announcement of his passing, devotees have started to congregate outside the hotel where he passed away to grieve and pay homage to the celebrity.
Tributes have poured in from numerous celebrities including Rylan Clark, who posted on Twitter: “Extremely sad news. V tragic and so young. RIP Liam x”.
Max George from The Wanted also expressed his devastation: “Devastated. Liam was an unbelievably supportive during one of the most difficult times in my life. I will never forget that. My thoughts are with his family, friends and fans at this horrendous time. Rest in peace Liam. Max x”.
Piers Morgan added his voice to the chorus of mourners, remarking: “Good grief.. what a shocking tragedy.”
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am