Liam Payne 'never stopped loving' ex-partner Cheryl and their son Bear

Liam Payne "never stopped loving" ex-partner Cheryl and his son Bear. The singer has been described a "wonderful father" to his seven-year-old son following his tragic death.

Liam died last Wednesday (October 16) aged 31, after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Argentina. The brother of his former mentor Tony Cowell has remembered the former One Direction star as a "kind and considerate" man and a "wonderful father" to Bear.

He told Closer magazine: "Our family has known Liam for so many years. I will always remember how he always made the effort to speak to our late mum, Julie, when she was in Simon's dressing room.

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"Yes, the fame took its toll on his mental health, but he remained kind and considerate and an incredible friend to so many, and a wonderful father to [his son] Bear; so generous and private."

"I also feel for Cheryl, as I know Liam never stopped loving her and Bear. It's going to be so difficult for her. I can't imagine her pain. Louis Walsh is devastated too. He told me, 'Liam had this star quality about him. I will miss him'.

"It's been moving to see this outpouring of grief around the world for Liam. I want to remember him as a beautiful young man, a normal kid trying to battle his demons."

Tony has told how Simon recently met with Liam at his Cotswolds home, where Bear enjoyed playing with the music mogul's son Eric, 10. He said: "Liam was determined to gain Simon's approval [on 'The X Factor']. He desperately wanted to please him. We are devastated. I feel for Simon, too."

"He only recently met with Liam a few months ago, when Liam took Bear to see him at his house in the