I was a Noughties pop star who toured with Liam Payne… we were both ruthlessly moulded into ‘perfect’ X Factor icons
SAT on the tour bus, Liam Payne revealed he’d failed yet another solo X Factor audition – before with a twinkle in his eye, adding: “But they put me through in a band”.
In a few months, the sheepish young man would reach near-unparalleled superstardom as one-fifth of arguably the biggest boyband the world has ever known.
In the six years after One Direction finished third on The X Factor in 2010, the group sold more than 200 million records and were streamed 21 billion times.
While the band split in 2016, fans remained fiercely loyal up to the tragic passing of Liam, who died aged 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Palermo, Argentina, two months ago.
The news has led many to reevaluate the pressures facing young popstars who are thrown into the spotlight, often without support, and endure demanding schedules that push some to the brink.
One person who knows this all too well is the late singer’s pal Sean Smith, of X Factor pop duo Same Difference, who Liam supported as a warm-up act before finding fame and confided in about being put together in One Direction.
In an exclusive interview, the 39-year-old admits “drugs are rife in the industry” and many fall into its trappings due to long hours on the road performing around the clock, with little chance of holding down any meaningful relationship.
Sean tells us: “You can always say no but I understand why people fall into that world. There were times we were doing our fourth gig of the day.
“Some people may need some ‘uppers’ to get themselves through it and once they finish, they may have a show in the morning too. So to get to sleep they may need a joint or a sleeping tablet.
“You could see how easily you get into that world and that it could spiral out of control. Thankfully I’ve always kept on top of my fitness, but others don’t or can’t.
“The industry definitely left me with a few mental scars that need addressing but at the same time, I’m proud I’m still going to this day despite everything.
“That’s not to say I haven’t had the odd blowout in the past but it’s never been an issue for me and I have an old school, ‘the show must go on’, kind of nature and I’ll always be as exemplary as I can.”
Sean rose to fame, alongside his sister Sarah on The X Factor, when they were put together by producers to form bubblegum pop-group Same Difference in 2007.
He claims to have recognised young Liam, who joined the group for several tour dates as a support act, was destined for “superstardom” early on.
Having both been moulded by producers for the show, Sean could empathise with Liam and says he was in utter disbelief when the singer’s death was announced on October 16.
If you do an interview, even if there are cracks you must never show them
Sean Smith
Sean says: “When I first heard the news, I thought it was a celebrity death hoax because so much online is fake nowadays, so it took me a while to realise and for it to sink in.
“I couldn’t work out how he got there, he was so talented, grounded and from such a wonderful family that I just couldn’t understand.”
One of the big pressures Sean struggled with, which he suspects Liam may also have found hard too, was remaining ‘perfect’ on all occasions and never revealing how he truly felt.
He recalls: “We were told, ‘It’s always sunny in Same Difference world, always’.
“’You always have a big smile while being papped. If you do an interview even if there are cracks you must never show them’.
“I felt like they knew how to market us and knew what had to be done. It seems a similar thing happened with S Club 7 too.”
Before joining One Direction, Liam had auditioned for The X Factor at least once before and despite his young years was far ahead of other musicians, according to Sean.
He tells us: “It was so clear he was going to be a huge success and he was going to be a superstar.”
This became apparent to the singer while Liam was performing as their warm-up act and had already made wristbands to grow his brand and following.
“I saw the merchandise and this was before One Direction, and thought, ‘Wow this kid is really on it’,” Sean tells us.
“I always thought he would be fine when he became a superstar because he had such a grounded, solid family, which makes this all the more heartbreaking.”
Everyone loved them, they went onto superstardom globally. It’s crazy how quickly it all happened
Sean on One Direction
Sean recalls Liam confiding in him about being put through on the group stage on The X Factor while they were travelling together on a tour bus.
“He auditioned one year before us but didn’t get through as a solo artist, then skipped our year and went on after that,” the talent show star recalls.
“He told us, ‘I‘m going for The X Factor again’. The producers tell you not to say anything about the show so you don’t give it away.
“I said, ‘Can you tell me if you’re through or not?’ and he replied, ‘I’m not allowed’, but then added, ‘I didn’t get through solo artist but they put me through in a band.’
“I tried to give him advice and told him, ‘No matter what happens, go along with it. That happened to Sarah and I and it worked for us.
“In the end, nine out of 10 times they are not looking to do harm but build a brand for you. It was mad to think the very next year they were superstars. It came out of nowhere.
“Everyone loved them, they went on to superstardom globally. It’s crazy how quickly it all happened.
“It sounds ridiculous now because of the worldwide talent he went on to be but it felt like he was really listening to my advice, he wanted to know how we did it and the pitfalls.”
When Sean tried out for The X Factor in 2007, he also was a solo act and his sister Sarah, who only came along only to support him, was asked to perform in a pre-judges audition too.
Neither of the siblings were put through but producers asked them if they would consider joining forces. They did and bubblegum pop group Same Difference was formed.
Bubblegum pop
Sean tells us he dreamed of being like Robbie Williams and have adoring female fans, but instead was seen “more like H from Steps” and came across as “asexual and ‘the protective brother’”.
He suspects Liam could have suffered with the process of being manufactured into a marketable popstar in one of the biggest boybands to grace the planet.
Sean says: “They wanted to portray me in a certain way and that wasn’t who I was. I was continually fighting against the truth that my sister was Same Difference and I was not.
“It didn’t sit well with me. It wasn’t how I wanted to be perceived. I dreamed of being like Robbie Williams with adoring fans and girls screaming my name.
“I was fighting against what they wanted me to be and there was definitely pressure from that. I feel I went into self-sabotage mode towards the end and argued a lot.”
Sean suspects Liam could have had a tougher time than him due to the advent of social media, which “can be a painful thing” especially for a group of such fame.
“When you’re at the top, you constantly feel people are trying to knock you down,” he says. “It’s sad, instead of celebrating your talent, they kick you back down instead.”
Simon Cowell labelled us X Factor's 'most annoying' act
SAME Difference were branded the “one of the most annoying” acts Simon Cowell had ever seen when they went on the show.
But their 2007 X Factor appearance would lead to lasting fame, with the brother-sister duo splitting in 2014 after tours and releasing several albums.
Sean Smith’s career was far from over – he went on to enjoy success in the theatres and regularly performed in musicals, including Queen’s We Will Rock You alongside Anita Dobson, toured on cruise ships and pursued his solo career.
He’s also starred in many Pantomimes – currently, he’s playing the Prince in Sleeping Beauty at the Middleton Arena, in Manchester, until December 30, which he says is “absolutely brilliant”.
Sean’s love for Pantos started at a young age, with him recalling performances alongside ITV presenter Stephen Mulhern and Hunter from the TV show Gladiators when he was seven years old.
Meanwhile, his sister Sarah bought a church, which she converted into a performing arts centre SD Studios – named after Same Difference – and is a mum to three boys.
Reflecting on their incredible career, Sean says: “I couldn’t be happier really. I’ve been blessed because I do what I love and always dreamed of when I was growing up.
“I never thought I’d be able to make ends meet from this but I can honestly say I do. I feel like this is my calling and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
Same Difference star Sean Smith plays the Prince in Sleeping Beauty at Manchester’s Middleton Arena from now until December 30. Get your tickets here.