One Direction has become a pop phenomenon around the world in a very short space of time.

And like many boy bands before them they run the risk of burning out and falling into obscurity.

But Liam Payne has opened up to Wonderland magazine about why he thinks the group has been so successful and how they can have longevity.

“For us, the main thing is we’ve just been ourselves,” he told the publication.

“Lots of people get into our situation and you hear that they’ve changed. We’ve just stayed as ourselves.

“There’s lots of things the fans don’t know about us. People still ask whether we really get on or not – and we genuinely do. A lot of people don’t believe that.

And his bandmate Louis Tomlinson chimed in with his take on the situation.

“I think previous boy bands felt they had to meet a stereotype,” he surmised. “We’re just ourselves – stupid, immature and quirky.”

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