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'X Factor' reveals unseen footage of how One Direction was formed

One Direction were put together when all five members auditioned individually for The X Factor in 2010. (ITV)
One Direction were put together when all five members auditioned individually for The X Factor in 2010. (ITV)

The X Factor has unveiled a never before seen clip of the process which led to the judges putting together the group that became One Direction.

Filmed during the 2010 series, the clip features Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh pondering the idea of putting together some of the boys from the auditions into a group.

Read more: Liam Payne faces criticism after comments about bandmates

Early in the clip, Cowell puts a picture of Niall Horan down on the table and declares that he should be in the group if they do go ahead with the idea.

"I'm not saying we're going to do it, but I'd like to imagine it," said Cowell.

Scherzinger suggests that her fellow judges should "do an imaginary boyband" with some of their favourite boys, adding Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson to the hypothetical group.

She said: "They are the cutest boyband ever, I love it. The little girls are going to love them.

"They're just too talented to get rid of. They've got the right look and charisma on stage. I think they'll be really great in a boyband.

Read more: Liam Payne suggests One Direction reunion is on the way

"They're like little stars and you can't get rid of little stars so you put them all together."

In perhaps the one part of the One Direction story the judges got wrong at this early stage, they suggested that Liam Payne's "standout" audition and confidence meant that he "could be the leader" of the group.

One Direction went on to become the world's biggest boyband after their X Factor rise to fame. (NurPhoto/Getty Images)
One Direction went on to become the world's biggest boyband after their X Factor rise to fame. (NurPhoto/Getty Images)

One Direction ultimately finished in third place on the 2010 series of The X Factor, behind winner Matt Cardle and runner-up Rebecca Ferguson.

Their 2011 debut single What Makes You Beautiful broke pre-order records and shot straight to the top of the UK Singles Chart, while their debut album Up All Night also smashed records worldwide.

Read more: How well do you know One Direction?

The group rode an enormous wave of popularity all the way through to 2015, when Zayn Malik decided to leave the band.

They initially stated that they would continue as a four-piece and released fifth album Made in the A.M., but then announced they would be going on an indefinite hiatus, which continues to this day,

Watch: Louis Tomlinson accuses presenter of "stirring up" One Direction beef