Music mogul Simon Cowell has opened up about the 'horrific' moment he received news of former One Direction star Liam Payne's death, an event which nearly caused him to stop production on his new Netflix series.
An On-Camera Breakdown
In the documentary 'The Next Act', which follows Cowell's search for a new chart-topping boyband, cameras captured the raw moment the TV judge learned of Payne's tragic passing in October last year. Cowell, who remained close to the singer, revealed the heartbreaking news forced an immediate pause in filming the six-part talent show.
'In the middle, there was that moment with Liam, which was just horrific. That really threw us. I was very close to him and that was hard. We almost stopped filming. I had to go away, clear my head,' Cowell explained following the series' release on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
A Pause for Respect and Grief
Out of respect for Payne's family, Cowell took the unprecedented step of sending the sensitive footage to the late singer's parents and his ex-partner, Cheryl Tweedy, before the episode aired. The pair share an eight-year-old son, Bear.
'I sent [parts of episode three] to Liam’s parents and Cheryl to see, for obvious reasons, and I said, ‘Look, I don’t want you to just see it when it airs,’’ Cowell stated. The production team facilitated the viewing, and the families were reportedly 'fine with it,' with Cowell adding he believed the portrayal was 'respectful.'
The emotional impact led to a two-week break in the near-daily filming schedule, which had begun in December 2023. Cowell admitted he seriously considered whether to continue with the project at all.
Carrying On for a New Band
Despite his grief, Cowell found the strength to resume the search, driven by a desire not to let down the aspiring young performers. The nationwide hunt culminated in the formation of a seven-piece boyband named December 10, a date the members consider the band's birth.
Industry figures including Pete Waterman, Savan Kotecha, and songwriter Kamille assisted Cowell in the process. Kamille reflected on the difficult period, stating, 'At the time he took a break from filming because it was so devastating... part of you’s still shaken by it. But Simon’s very strong - and he really didn’t want to let these boys down.'
Paying tribute to Payne on camera, an emotional Cowell remembered him as 'so normal and down to earth' with a constant 'sparkle in his eye.' He poignantly added, 'You don’t know how you feel about someone until you lose them. I am going to genuinely miss him.'
