Liam Payne: Best of luck Zayn

Free Radio chatted to One Direction's Liam Payne about Louis' impending fatherhood, One Direction's upcoming break and the band without Zayn.

How has Zayn's departure changed the band dynamic?
When something big happens, it always brings people closer together which is great, cos we've really banded together. Actually, a lot of work has been done a lot quicker which is cool, so the album was recorded, we finished two days ago, which has taken like a month to record and a month or so to write. So it's super super fast paced. Obviously we wish Zayn the best of luck. We saw he got signed to a new record deal the other day. I've been saying a lot, if your heart's not in it, then you can't continue doing something you don't enjoy. I always used to say to my mum and dad when they had jobs they didn't like, 'why bother, go and do something you enjoy'. All the best of luck really!

Still in touch with Zayn
We haven't really spoken that much because he's kind of distancing himself. It was a difficult thing to leave behind. He's just distanced himself a bit and it's nice to see him showing his support and stuff which is cool. It's all still good. The single's not based about Zayn, but obviously it's about the whole thing of, nothing can stop us I guess basically, is the thing the writers were going for behind the whole deal. I think it's a good statement to come out with to start our new record. It's great we're releasing music now that we like to listen to, and the whole album's just like that. It's all music we actually listen to now, it's more about us.

The band going on a break
There's loads of things (I want to do). I've been writing a lot on the road at the moment, not for me, just for other people. I've been doing a lot of things, you know trying to get into the producing side of it which is pretty cool. You know, I think everyone needs a little bit of a break now, and a sit down and a stop, to kind of take in all the great things that've happened. I don't know, I guess I'm going to go home and chill for a little bit. Everyone's asking if I'm gonna go away on holiday, but I've been everywhere, so I kind of just wanna go home! I honestly do miss living in Wolverhampton. I actually wanna pop down to my old school for a little bit, and go and talk to the kids. I actually wasn't very good at school, I was a bit rubbish, but one of the teachers there convinced me to better myself and do better, and I managed to pass everything which was pretty cool. But I was really lazy! It is pretty crazy to go back, because obviously that's where I dreamt of doing all this stuff. Obviously I went to the show when I was 14, so I've always kind of had it in mind. I guess that's what made me a little bit lazy at school, because I was like 'bugger this, I'm gonna be a pop star' [laughs].

Louis' impending fatherhood
He's great. Obviously it was a bit of a shock to start off with, but he's cool with it now, and I'm sure he's gonna be a great dad. He's always been the best with…. I've actually learnt a lot off Louis about being around kids and stuff, because he's really cool. Obviously we meet a lot of kids and stuff that come to watch the show, but he is literally the best, he's gonna be great.

Tips on fatherhood from celeb mates
I don't know actually, I haven't asked him. Obviously he's got a lot of good people around him who are helping him out and stuff. Even though it's such a great thing, it's a difficult thing to go through. I'm sure he's gonna do great. He's really happy and excited about it, he's embracing it, which is the best way to be. Maybe he might get one of those columns in the paper called 'Fatherhood', where he can just write things down about his day! It would be cool!