It is the sentence that could break millions of teenage hearts — One Direction are believed to be planning to split.
The boy band are set to announce that they will take an extended hiatus of at least a year to focus on solo projects, according to reports in The Sun.
Niall Horan, 21, Harry Styles, 21, Liam Payne, 21, and Louis Tomlinson, 23, are expected to split next March after releasing their fifth album.
The group, who have sold more than 50 million records and have achieved 91 number ones worldwide, are expected to perform their final show at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on October 31, according to sources. A source told The Sun yesterday: “The guys have been together for five years, which is an incredible run for any boy band. They fully deserve at least a year to work on their own projects. There is no bad blood between them and they are all 100 per cent behind the decision.”
One Direction — who were a five piece until Zayn Malik left in March to pursue a solo career — formed on The X Factor, the ITV reality programme, in 2010. A spokesman for the band said: “We don’t comment on speculation.”
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Payne admitted recently that they were planning to take a leave of absence later this year: “I think everyone needs a little bit of a break now, to take in all the great things that have happened.”
According to The Sun, he is interested in becoming a DJ while Styles has been offered roles in films including Tulip Fever and Tomlinson is said to be interested in the business side of music.