Simon Cowell and Perrie Edwards cancel appearances in wake of Liam Payne's death
Simon Cowell has made a last-minute diary change following news of Liam Payne's death.
The TV personality was the man who put One Direction together on 2010's The X Factor and was the group's mentor on the UK competition, before signing them to his record label.
Cowell, who is also behind reality TV show Britain's Got Talent, has cancelled auditions for the new BGT series as the industry mourns the loss of the 31-year-old.
READ MORE: Liam Payne's family 'heartbroken' after singer's shock death
Simon Cowell has made a last-minute diary change following news of Liam Payne's death. (L-R: Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Simon Cowell, Harry Styles, and Zayn Malik in Nov 2013) Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
The TV personality was the man to put One Direction together on 2010's The X Factor and was the group's mentor on the UK competition, before signing them to his record label. WireImage
"Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we have decided to postpone the Britain's Got Talent auditions," Freemantle UK announced on Thursday.
"Our thoughts are with Liam's friends, family and all who loved him."
It's not known when the audition process will resume.
Cowell is yet to speak publicly about the tragedy, which saw the singer fall to his death from the third floor of a Buenos Aires hotel.
Former Little Mix performer Perrie Edwards, who was previously engaged to Payne's One Direction bandmate Zayn Malik, has cancelled her planned appearance for Friday.
READ MORE: Stars pay tribute to One Direction alum Liam Payne
BBC Radio 1 announce the postponement of Perrie Edwards' live lounge performance Instagram/BBCRadio1
The singer was due to take part in BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge but pulled out after the shock news.
"We've just had some news on our show that because of the sad news of Liam Payne earlier we have heard that Perrie is not going to be in the Live Lounge tomorrow," BBC Radio 1 hosts Rickie, Melvin and Charlie revealed on-air.
"She was supposed to be performing but that's now not happening tomorrow but it will be happening at a later date."
Payne's former boy band members - Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik- are yet to publicly speak about the loss.
Payne's family released a short statement on their pain after the shock death.
"Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul," they said.
"We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time."
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