"I just know I'm going to do it wrong."
On Sunday, September 28, 2025, it was announced that the choreographer, Paul Roberts, had passed away the previous evening.
He died of cancer and was 52 years old at the time of his demise.
Paul had worked with the likes of Girls Aloud, Ed Sheeran, Prince, Pixie Lott, and Alicia Keys, among several others.
One of his famous clients was the iconic British boy band, One Direction.
The group featured artists, including Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Niall Horan.
Paul worked with the band for six years.
Reflecting on One Direction in 2021, Paul Roberts had said: “It was always really interesting working with One Direction.
“I knew very early on that there was a magic about them.
“I could see they had other skill-sets aside from being this very good-looking five-piece – and then four-piece – band.
“In personal moments, you got to see them flourish.
“They’d mess around doing silly dance moves, but I’d think, ‘Actually, if you wanted to dance really well, you sure as hell could do it’.”
However, for Zayn, dancing was not always his strongest suit.
In 2010, the singer auditioned for The X Factor UK as a solo artist during its seventh season.
When it came to the Bootcamp stage of the competition, Zayn’s nerves began to show.
This was when Simon Cowell informed the acts that they had to perform a dance routine.
When it was the turn of The Boys category, Simon noted that Zayn was absent from the stage.
The judge found Zayn sitting backstage, refusing to take part.
Zayn told the camera: “I seriously don’t want to do it, because I hate dancing.
‘I’ve never done it before, and I just feel like an idiot doing it.
“I just know I’m going to do it wrong, because I don’t know it.
“You’ve got to perform in front of Simon and professional choreographers who know what they’re doing.”
Simon simply told Zayn that he was just ruining the opportunity for himself and said:
“If you don’t do it now, you’re never going to be able to do it.”
Zayn agreed and gave the routine a go.
Afterwards, Simon told Louis Walsh: “He was uncomfortable, but I’m glad that he did it, for himself.”
Although Zayn did not progress to the next stage of the competition as a solo singer, the judges formed a group with him and the four other young men.
Under Simon’s mentorship, One Direction finished the competition in third place and became one of the biggest boy bands in the world.
In 2015, Zayn chose to depart the band and a year later, the group embarked on an indefinite hiatus.
Meanwhile, condolences poured in for Paul Roberts following the news of his death.
The Girls Aloud singer, Nicola Roberts, said: “Paul was such a beautiful light and we were very lucky to have him as our first introduction.
“Sending all my love.”
Sophie Ellis-Bextor added: “Paul was so special. So talented, yes, but also warm and sweet and thoughtful and fun.
“I’m so sorry to hear he’s not here any more. Sending lots of love to all who knew him.”
The news of Paul’s death comes just 11 months after it was tragically confirmed that Liam Payne had died at the age of 31.
The singer fell from his balcony in Argentina.
Meanwhile, Zayn Malik recently announced a Las Vegas residency, due to take place in 2026.
Loading ...