LIAM PAYNE LAUNCHES SOLO CAREER

Liam Payne appeared on Nick Grimshaw’s BBC Radio 1 breakfast show this morning to premiere his R&B solo debut “Strip That Down” f/Quavo (Capitol). The track had a solid start in Blighty today where it's currently #2 on iTunes, with playlist support at BBC Radio 1 (B List) and Capital.

Back in the USA, the single, released by Republic, is #1 at iTunes. It was written with Ed Sheeran and top pop writer Steve Mac, FYI.

Payne is a hot tabloid property in the U.K. thanks to a romance with former Girls Aloud singer and fellow talent show alumni Cheryl, with whom he just had a child. Over the last 24 hours, he has been saying he prefers Niall Horan's direction over Harry Styles rockier style, discussing the "sad" departure of Zayn Malik, who doesn't support a 1D reunion in future, and comparing his time in the band to being at uni, "but on steroids."