For Zayn Malik, five was too many directions

Mon, 01 Feb, 2016 - 00:00

The singer spent four years performing alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne in the band, before quitting last spring. Malik said he did not feel at home musically since they were put together in X Factor.

“I just gave it a go because it was there at the time. I think I kinda always wanted to go. From the first year, I never really wanted to be there in the band,” he said.

“When I realised the direction that we were going in, mind the pun, with the music, I instantly realised it wasn’t for me. How do you write a song from five people’s perspective?

Malik stated that leaving wasn’t something he “really had to think about” or process. “I just always knew,” he told Zane.

Rihanna’s new album Anti was built up with a flurry of publicity but leaked by a fan last Wednesday after being accidentally uploaded to streaming service Tidal. The Bajan singer didn’t miss a trick and officially released the whole album the same day, even offering fans the chance to download it for free on Tidal using a limited number of codes distributed by herself and Samsung.

Now she’s broken her silence and thanked all her fans for their love for the album and said the praise was the “most rewarding feeling”.

She tweeted: “You guys legit make me the happiest girl in the world!! I’m so grateful that you appreciate the #ANTI album! It’s the most rewarding feeling.”

One Twitter user quickly replied, “#Anti is everything I hoped for! Thank you for this!”

It was a tough week for the 27-year-old as her first album since 2012 has been hit by problems in release.

Fans will also get a 60-day free trial to the streaming service, in which Rihanna is a stakeholder.

The album includes new single ‘Work’ featuring Drake, which was well received when it was launched last Wednesday.

Holly Willoughby couldn’t contain her emotions as the This Morning gang surprised an inspirational young carer live on air.

Willoughby was seen wiping tears from her eyes as she and Phillip Schofield joined Michael Underwood from the studio at a school in Ayr in Scotland. There, 13-year-old pupil Amy was presented with an iPad, books and singing lessons by Underwood in recognition for her amazing work as a young carer to her mother — who suffers aneurysms in her neck and brain — and her two disabled siblings.

Tears poured down the cheeks of mum-of-three Willoughby and she hurriedly brushed them away as they chatted on the phone to Amy, who thought she’d been called to the headmaster’s office to be told off.

As Amy said, “Thank you, thank you so much! This is like far too much! This is unbelievable, I thought I was getting into trouble,” Willoughby, Underwood and Schofield burst out laughing.