One Direction’s Liam Payne has revealed he was “shocked” to hear that bandmate Louis Tomlinson was becoming a father.

Louis, 23, is expecting his first child with Los Angeles-based stylist Brianna Jungwirth, although he has yet to comment on the news himself.

Liam told Magic Radio’s Jo Parkerson: “Well, obviously I was a bit shocked but he’s taken super well to it.”

The 21-year-old singer, who described Brianna as a “lovely girl,” added: “And he’s very excited with what’s going on with him at the moment and I feel that stuff like that happens sometimes. He’s taking it very seriously.”

Liam also admitted he has not been in contact with Zayn Malik since his exit from One Direction.

Zayn, who is engaged to Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards, announced his departure in March, citing his desire to live as a “normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight”.

One Direction at the Royal Variety Performance
One Direction including former member Zayn Malik (Yui Mok/PA)

“I haven’t spoken to him recently and he’s off doing his own thing and taking his time,” Liam said.

“It is a difficult thing to leave the band, but his heart wasn’t in it and you have to go with your heart and say, ‘I can’t do this any more and there is something out there that I do want to do that is different’, and that’s fine.”

Zayn has signed a recording deal with RCA Records.

Liam said: “I’m dead excited to hear some of his stuff. I did a lot of work with him in the studio when he was in the band.

“We used to stay up late and do rap stuff which is quite interesting, because I like to produce rap beats and stuff. He’s got a great voice and he’s a very talented young man and we wish him all the best of luck.”

Liam – who has written songs for Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and been in the recording studio with Pharrell Williams – said he has no plans to follow in Zayn’s footsteps and pursue a solo career.

“I’m more interested in the writing side of things if I’m honest,” he said.

“I like writing songs for different artists and crafting a song is a really beautiful thing to do – I sit down and do it with my girlfriend (Sophia Smith) sometimes and with a couple of lads that I know.

“I much prefer doing that sort of thing. I love being in the band. I don’t know if I could do it by myself now, it’s all too comfortable.”

The full interview can be heard on Magic Radio on Saturday August 8 from 3pm.