Ant Middleton describes 'tragic loss' as he pays tribute to 'little brother' Liam Payne on GMB

The former SAS: Who Dares Wins star paid tribute to Liam Payne on ITV's Good Morning Britain following his death at the age of 31

Former SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton has paid tribute to former One Direction star following his death at the age of just 31.

The pair became firm friends when they made a documentary together and Ant saw him as his "little brother". Just hours after the news broke, Ant appeared on a video link from Australia where he had received the devastating news live on air while promoting his new documentary.

He told Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway his death as "a tragic loss". He said: "I was just shocked, I was lost for words to be honest. He was such a positive outgoing guy who I believed just lacked a sense of belonging when he left the band."

Liam was found dead after falling from a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday around 5pm local time.

Ant and Liam first met at the opening of Mark Wahlberg's Wahlburgers restaurant in Covent Garden, London. They went on to make a TV documentary together. The documentary forced long, candid discussions about fatherhood, drinking, and relationships between the two famous men. The pair had no camera, no cell service, and no fans.

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