Directioners the world over are not so patiently waiting for the band to return from their hiatus.
But if you think they’ll return as a five-piece, you’re sorely mistaken.
Liam Payne has rubbished the idea that Zayn Malik could ever reunite with him, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, saying ‘he shouldn’t be here’ if he doesn’t want to be.
The Strip That Down singer appears on tomorrow night’s edition of The Jonathan Ross Show, and was asked by the host whether Zayn, 26, would ever rejoin the group after quitting in March 2015.
Liam, also 26, said: ‘No, I don’t think that’ll ever happen.
‘When he left, it wasn’t on great terms so I don’t feel like it’s a thing. If he didn’t want to be here, he shouldn’t be here. Which is fine.’
He added: ‘Like I say good for him, he’s gone off and is doing his own thing and he’s doing really well so I don’t want to mess with his stuff… We did a whole stadium tour without him so I feel like it’s fine.’
Zayn stunned the music world when he announced he was leaving One Direction after five years, saying in a statement: ‘My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart.
‘I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.’
One Direction went on to release their fifth album, Made In The AM, but went on hiatus in 2016.
Speaking about whether a reunion will happen, Liam doesn’t think we’ll be seeing the band back together any time soon.
He said: ‘Everybody outwardly in the press has said something but we haven’t really spoke as a collective together.
‘All I can say is, through album cycles and single cycles, I see everybody putting songs out at the moment, I don’t think for at least the next two years it’s going to happen.’
Liam is readying himself to release his debut album LP1, while Louis Tomlinson will release his debut album Walls in January.
Niall is expected to release the follow-up to his debut Flicker in early 2020, while Harry dropped the first single of his as-yet-unannounced second album, Lights Up, earlier this month.
The Jonathan Ross Show airs at 10.10pm on Saturday night on ITV.
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