Scott Mills was emotional as he paid tribute to Liam Payne and said his death was “very difficult to accept”.
The former One Direction star died on Wednesday after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sir Palmero hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is 31 years old.
The pop star reportedly arrived in the Latin American country earlier this month to attend his former band Niall Horan's concert.
BBC Radio 2 presenter Scott, 51, said he “couldn't bear for Liam's story to end here” as he recalled his time with the late singer over the years.
He opened his afternoon show on the station by saying: “The sad news about Liam Payne has been very difficult to accept because I never thought I would have to say goodbye to him so soon.”
Scott Mills was emotional as he paid tribute to Liam Payne and said his death was “very difficult to accept”.
BBC Radio 2 presenter Scott, 51, said he “couldn't bear for Liam's story to end here” as he recalled his time with the late singer over the years (pictured together in 2015).
The former One Direction star died on Wednesday after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sir Palmero hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. he is 31 years old
“I had a lot of fun in One Direction, over the years, their memories stay with me for a lifetime, you know, and Liam was a big part of that.
When presenting on BBC Radio 1, he joked that he sometimes felt like the sixth member of One Direction, as he was often with them at their peak.
Despite previously meeting stars including David Beckham and Mariah Carey, Scott recalled laughing with Liam when the singer's father, Jeff, wanted to take a selfie with him at the One Direction movie premiere.
The host choked back tears and gave him a special message: 'So Jeff, I don't know if you can hear this, but my heart goes out to you and the rest of Liam's family today and of course his little boy.'
He added: “I feel very sad about this. Liam, we had so much fun and you were always such a warm and caring person to me.
'Thank you for letting me be part of your journey. I will never forget it. The band was always great, but Liam grew up in the group, the smart one. And I can't stand Liam's story ending here.
The BBC radio presenter then dedicated the My Life in One Direction story to Liam, his family and his fans.
Liam's family have said they are “heartbroken” by his death at the age of 31, adding that the former One Direction star will be “forever”. Live in our hearts.'
Scott said: “I had a lot of fun in One Direction, as many of you know, their memories will stay with me for years to come, and Liam was a big part of that.”
Scott joked that he sometimes felt like the sixth member of One Direction, as he was often with them in their heyday on BBC Radio 1 (filming them together in 2011).
Liam's family have said they are “heartbroken” by his death aged 31, and that the former One Direction star will “live in our hearts forever” (pictured in 2023).
In a statement released by the family, “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We support each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space during this difficult time.
Following reports of his death in Buenos Aires, spokesman for the city's ambulance service provider, Alberto Crescenti, said Payne fell 40 meters and suffered “serious, non-life-threatening injuries.”
He said: 'At 5:04 pm local time the alarm was raised about a person lying in a yard in South Gaza.
An ambulance arrived at 5:11 p.m. and the man was pronounced dead.
'Later we found out he was a famous singer. Unfortunately, his injuries from the fall proved fatal. There is no possibility of resuscitating him.'
Liam began his quest for stardom in 2008 when he first auditioned for The X Factor.
At the tender age of 14, Liam wowed the judges with his own version of Frank Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon, but was later kicked off the show.
However, Liam returned to his singing career by auditioning for the competition in 2010, where he quickly rose to fame as part of One Direction.
He and his former bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson saw their potential as a team alongside Simon Cowell and former judge Nicole Scherzinger.
After releasing five albums as one of the biggest boy bands of all time, Liam released his first solo album titled LP1 in 2019.
His single Strip That Down, co-written with Ed Sheeran, peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.
During her music career, the pop star collaborated with artists such as Jay Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D'Amelio, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.
He was previously in a relationship with British pop musician Cheryl Cole and the couple welcomed their son Pierre Gray on March 22, 2017. The parents later separated in 2018.
He was previously in a relationship with British pop musician Cheryl Cole and the couple welcomed their son Pierre Gray on March 22, 2017.
Liam had an on-off relationship with his ex-fiancee Maya Henry following his romance with the Girls Aloud singer, and the couple broke up in May 2022.
