'I knew Liam Payne from the beginning – he was different away from the spotlight and missed home'
Running towards me like over-excited puppies, One Direction were brimming with happiness and the thought of what lay ahead of them. It was early 2011 and they'd just come third on The X Factor, behind winner Matt Cardle and Rebecca Ferguson in second place. But everyone knew they were the standout stars of the show – and as editor of a popular teen pop magazine, my postbag and email inbox was already full of excited messages from fans.


