STRICTLY star JB Gill has opened up about having a ‘tough week’ after his close pal Liam Payne’s funeral.
Just over a month after his shocking death at the age of just 31, Liam’s family and closest friends came together at his funeral to pay their final respects on Wednesday.
While Liam’s family and friends, including JB’s JLS bandmate Marvin Humes, gathered to say goodbye to the One Direction star, JB was in rehearsals with his dance partner Lauren Oakley and couldn’t make it.
The singer, who first met Liam in 2008 during auditions for The X Factor, reflected on their friendship in a new interview.
He told the Daily Mail: “He was a very good friend. We literally met him when he was starting his journey out. It was before he had the success of One Direction because he was just a solo artist in the same year that we were in The X Factor and got onto the live shows. I just remember him following the boys and me around.”
JB auditioned alongside his JLS bandmates, while a 14-year-old Liam impressed the judges as a solo artist.
Although JLS went on to become runners-up in the competition, Liam’s journey ended at bootcamp after Simon Cowell eliminated him during the judges’ houses round.
JB revealed, “He wanted to be in JLS, to be honest. But when he got knocked out at bootcamp, we said, ‘Just keep going, keep working hard, you’ll get your chance.’ I’m obviously glad that he was able to do that.”
Liam returned to The X Factor two years later, where Simon brought him together with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik to form One Direction.
The group became a global sensation, but with fame came personal challenges for Liam.
Liam tragically passed away last month after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
JB reflected on the tragedy, saying, “It’s incredibly sad, especially when it’s super close to home. We had a personal relationship with Liam and all the One Direction boys.
“When you come from the same show, and you go through similar experiences, you have that common ground that you can identify with. It has been tough when you see negative things come out of that.”
Millions knew Liam as a superstar who shot to fame with One Direction — but this week he was remembered as a son, brother and dad.
On what was the hardest day of her life Cheryl Tweedy, the mother of his young son Bear, was supported by her Girls Aloud bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts.
Inside the church, a choir sang as Liam’s nearest and dearest struggled to come to terms with their “unfathomable” loss.
Those who knew Liam best also gave readings — with the star’s huge generosity at the centre of the emotional send-off.
A friend said: “The service was beautiful but for everyone inside the church, the loss of Liam is still unfathomable.
“A choir performed during the service and Liam’s personality shone through in all of the details.
“The readings given during the service were incredibly personal and painted a picture of what Liam was really like.
“He was kind, generous and put everyone else first. The service was centred on this.
“Liam as a son, a brother and a father. The man that he was behind closed doors. The man who went out of his way to help others. The fact he is no longer with us is still incomprehensible.”
Locals turned out to respectfully line the streets before the service in Amersham, Bucks.
Floral tributes yesterday came from his parents, Geoff and Karen, and, most poignantly, from his seven-year-old son, Bear.
There was also a nod to Liam’s love of ten-pin bowling — while flowers were left at a shrine in his home city of Wolverhampton.
His funeral also saw donations for sick children in tribute to Liam’s generosity.
In the months leading up to his death, the star had quietly helped many in need. He gave £10,000 for one poorly youngster’s treatment while another £770 went to a young girl’s medical bills after she was injured during a school shooting.
In other acts of kindness, he helped a young girl diagnosed with a stage two Wilms tumour on her kidney.
The service was beautiful but for everyone inside the church, the loss of Liam is still unfathomable
A friend
Mourners were asked to continue Liam’s legacy with a donation to help build a new Children’s Cancer Centre at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
A friend said: “Generosity was Liam to a tee. His family knew that Liam cared greatly for others and, as painful as his death was, they know Liam would have taken a huge amount of pride in knowing that he was still able to help others.
“Large sums of money were donated to this in Liam’s name yesterday and it will help so many children.”
Liam’s passions were also highlighted, including his love of Batman. Cars that drove his friends to the service had the superhero’s logo on the window.
On October 16, 2024, Liam Payne sadly died, leaving family, friends and fans devastated.
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Mourners included broadcaster and fellow West Brom fan Adrian Chiles, Gavin & Stacey star James Corden and ex-Spurs striker Robbie Keane.
But there were many who loved Liam who were unable to attend. Robbie Williams — who paid tribute after Liam’s death — and former X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger are understood to have been in contact with his family and sent flowers.
His One Direction bandmates — Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan — were all there yesterday in a touching show of support and togetherness.
A friend added: “No one knows what it was like to be in One Direction like these five men.
“They may not have been in contact all the time but the bond they share is unbreakable. Liam was the ‘dad’ of the band, always speaking up when the others needed him to.
“Harry, Louis, Zayn and Niall are all now having to navigate a path none of them ever thought they would go down. They were all there yesterday to support Liam’s family and one another.”
Afterwards at a wake held nearby more stories and memories were shared about Liam.
A friend said: “Life will, as it always does, continue.
“But for the people in Liam’s life, the people who loved him, they now face a long road ahead.”
