Former teen star Eoghan Quigg says Liam Payne helped him get through the X Factor - and says there's no way he would let his child ever take part in the show.
Eoghan was just 16 when he made it into the semi-finals of Simon Cowell's singing competition in 2008, and is now a radio presenter in Ireland. Liam was 14 when the One Direction star first tried to wow the judges, before returning a few years later as he took the world by storm.
The Northern Irish singer has paid tribute to the tragic star following his death last week and says he is thankful he never made it big in the industry like Liam did. Speaking on Talk TV, the dad-of-two says he and his mum Karen were determined to make sure he was coping with the demands on the reality programme.
He said: "I first met Liam when he was 14 and I was 15. We were quite young, two similar lads, who liked football, liked music, still at school. Through Bootcamp, we got to know each other and then when we went to the judge's houses we really, really bonded then.
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Eoghan Quigg / SWNS)Image:
WireImage)"I was only 15, it was my third time out of Ireland. She took me under her wing and made sure I was OK. It's a very dark day for the music industry."
He went on to add: "If my child asked me now 'Daddy can I go on a reality TV show' I don't think I'd be really comfortable with that. Just with the social media aspect. I was lucky enough when I was on in 2008 social media wasn't really that big. It was just starting out and I kind of have to count my blessings for that. Because it's a very dark place."
After his X Factor success, cute Eoghan was due to be signed by Simon, but was instead signed to record label RCA. Since then he released an album in 2009, and competed in the Irish national selection for the chance to represent Ireland in at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014.
After failing to represent Ireland and finishing second, Eoghan turned his attention to football and joined Coagh United FC in 2015 before moving to Portstewart FC. Now 32, the family man works in local radio and the doting dad says he is more than happy after shunning the spotlight.
Liam's funeral is set to take place next month. The 31-year-old tragically died after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room at CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday. His father Geoff has travelled to the country in South America for the recognition of the body and to arrange its repatriation.
It has now emerged that Liam's body is likely to remain in Argentina between 10 and 15 days, until the results of toxicological tests are known. Once the investigation ends, the singer's remains will be handed over to his relatives and repatriated to England, according to local media reports.
Argentinian police are investigating two members of staff at the hotel where the star fell to his death over allegations they supplied him with drugs, in the days before his death. The men have been accused of sneaking drugs into the singer's hotel suite at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires.
According to the Daily Mail, a cleaner and another member of staff at the hotel allegedly hid the drugs in a Dove soap box, which was found by police. It has been reported that white powder residue, crystals, tablets and other forms of drug paraphernalia, were noticed in Liam's suite.
Police have sent the substances for tests but it has been claimed that it appeared to be cocaine and crack cocaine. Hotel management were made aware of the questionable behaviour of the two staff members. According to the publication, a close friend of the star said: "There were two guys at the hotel that were giving Liam drugs. They sent taxis out to collect packages for him. "
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