Niall Horan has admitted that he felt like a ‘prisoner’ during One Direction’s heyday as fans prevented the boyband from leaving their hotels and going outside.
The Irish singer, 27, soared to fame as one fifth of the group – made up of Harry Styles, 27, Liam Payne, 27, Zayn Malik, 28, and Louis Tomlinson, 29, on The X Factor in 2010 – the band has been on a hiatus since 2016 as they all launch solo careers.
Talking to Dermot O’Leary, who hosts the ITV singing competition, on his People, Just People podcast, Niall admitted that he ‘struggled’ in the early years.
‘Prisoner’: Niall Horan has admitted that he felt like a ‘prisoner’ during One Direction’s heyday as fans prevented the boyband from leaving their hotels and going outside (pictured in 2019)
Asked whether he ever felt like a ‘prisoner’, Niall said: ‘A couple of times, yeah, because we were 17, 18, 19 for the first few years, and I struggled with it.
‘As you know, I have to be doing something all the time and the thought of just closing the curtain in my hotel room was just madness to me.
‘I really struggled with the idea, “Why won’t you just let us out? We just want to go for a walk!” But you can’t get inside the brain of a fan.’
Niall added: ‘Now I completely get it, but at the time we were like, “You’re our age, will you just let us out so we can walk down the street! You must understand!”‘
Way back when: The Irish singer, 27, soared to fame as one fifth of the group – made up of Harry Styles, 27, Liam Payne, 27, Zayn Malik, 28, and Louis Tomlinson, 29, on The X Factor in 2010 – the band has been on a hiatus since 2016 as they all launch solo careers (pictured in 2010)
Candid: Talking to Dermot O’Leary, pictured in 2020, who hosts the ITV singing competition, on his People, Just People podcast, Niall admitted that he ‘struggled’ in the early years
Talking about the height of the band’s fame in 2010, he continued: ‘In the UK, it was nuts. We’d go and do signings here and there and bits and pieces and that was crazy.
‘That was the first kind of side of it, you know, banging on car windows. Around the release of What Makes You Beautiful is when it really kicked off.
‘We did a HMV run around the country, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, to do the signings and that was the first time I seen the madness.’
One Direction celebrated their 10th anniversary in July and the band, which has been on a hiatus since 2016, released a video looking back at their best bits.
Struggles: Asked whether he ever felt like a ‘prisoner’, Niall said: ‘A couple of times, yeah, because we were 17, 18, 19 for the first few years, and I struggled with it.’ (pictured during their heyday)
During their time, they sold more than 200 million records worldwide and won almost 200 awards, including seven BRIT Awards.
Over the summer, Niall celebrated the 10th anniversary milestone as he shared a sweet message and throwback snap to Instagram.
He wrote: ‘When I met these four gents there was no way I thought we would go on to do what we did. So many unbelievable memories we shared together.
‘We felt the adoration of millions from around the planet on a daily basis and it was mind blowing. It’s such a major part of our lives and always will be.
Throwback! One Direction celebrated their 10th anniversary in July and the band, which has been on a hiatus since 2016, released a video looking back at their best bits
‘Mind-blowing!’: Over the summer, Niall celebrated the 10th anniversary milestone as he shared a sweet message and throwback snap to Instagram
‘Cheers to US today boys and thank you to all you beautiful people who have supported us over the last 10 years. @liampayne @harrystyles @zayn @louist91 ❤️ #10yearsofonedirection.’
The band decided to go on a hiatus in 2016 to pursue their solo careers after Zayn left the group in 2015.
At the time, the singer, who recently welcomed his first child with supermodel girlfriend Gigi Hadid, issued the following statement: ‘My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined.
‘But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.
Exit: The band decided to go on a hiatus in 2016 to pursue their solo careers after Zayn, pictured, left the group in 2015
‘I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart.
‘I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.’
Niall has released the following hit tracks since the band’s hiatus Nice To Meet Ya, This Town and Slow Hands.
Amazing: During their time, they sold more than 200 million records worldwide and won almost 200 awards, including seven BRIT Awards (pictured in 2012)