Liam Payne congratulates former One Direction bandmate Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid on pregnancy news

Liam Payne has congratulated his former One Direction bandmate Zayn Malik and his model girlfriend Gigi Hadid on their recent pregnancy news.

Payne sent well wishes to the couple during his Instagram Live .

"Also this week, didn't really wanna leave it out, wanted to make sure I said something on my own place before I started getting asked about it relentlessly by everybody," Payne said, speaking to his fans.

READ MORE: Supermodel Gigi Hadid hits back at YouTube star Jake Paul for dissing her boyfriend Zayn Malik

"I just wanted to say congratulations to Zayn and Gigi obviously, you know, they're having a baby."

Payne is the first member of One Direction to reach out to Malik and congratulate the couple on the news.

A father himself, Payne shares son Bear with his ex, Cheryl Cole. The stars welcomed the baby boy in March 2017, before the couple announced their split a year later in July, 2018.

Hadid, who recently celebrated her 25th birthday, appeared remotely on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show to confirm the news following rumours circulating for several days.

"We wish we could have announced it on our own terms but we are very excited and happy and grateful for everyone's well wishes," Hadid told Fallon.

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Hadid and British singer Malik started dating in late 2015 and their on-again off-again romance made them one of the most sought-after celebrity couples. They appeared together in Malik's romantic 'Pillowtalk' music video in 2016 and at the Met Gala in New York but announced their split in 2018.

They were spotted together again in January 2020 in New York.

Speaking to Fallon, Hadid gave no details on when the baby was due but said the couple were relishing their time in lockdown due to the coronavirus.

"It is a nice silver lining to be able to be home and be together and really experience it [the pregnancy] day by day," said Hadid.

The child will be the first for both Hadid and Malik.