TV host Lorraine Kelly pays tribute to Liam Payne and 'can't stop thinking' about his son

Lorraine Kelly has expressed her deep sorrow as she revealed that she 'can't stop thinking' about Liam Payne's young son while paying respects to the star on her show.

The former One Direction member has died at just 31 after a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. The incident happened shortly after he and his partner Kate Cassidy had been at a performance by Niall Horan, his former bandmate.

Before his tragic passing, Liam had reconnected with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl, with whom he co-parented their son Bear.

On Thursday's Lorraine show, Scottish television host Lorraine, aged 64, honoured the late singer stating that the news was "unbelievably heartbreaking".

Lorraine shared: "I was generally shocked when I saw this, it's absolutely tragic. I can't stop thinking about that poor wee boy because Cheryl is going to have to break the news to him," reports the Mirror.

She went on to add: "He is only seven years old and Liam was always talking about his son, he was a really devoted dad. He might not have been with him all the time but he was a very devoted dad. We've seen lots of photographs with his son and he spoke about him a lot too."

Lorraine reminisced by viewing a clip of her first interview with Liam alongside a former One Direction colleague, when Liam was only 15.

Reflecting on her interactions with the singer, Lorraine observed: "He was just adorable. The news is just unbelievably heartbreaking. I remember that time speaking to him, he was just so fun. When you spoke to the band he was always the grown up of the group."

Lorraine added: "My thoughts are with his family and friends but especially with his little boy. It's very sad. He was taken away far too soon, only 31 years old."

Liam became a father to his son Bear with Cheryl in 2017 at age 23, but the couple split the following year after more than two years together.

Cheryl, now 40, and Liam have co-parented their child since separating, although Liam has had limited involvement in Bear's life over the past seven years.

An industry source previously told OK! magazine: "We don't see a lot of Bear on Liam's social media but I think he wants to prove to Cheryl that he's getting his life together."

Lorraine is on ITV1 weekdays at 9am and on ITVX