December 24, 1991, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England). The group formed in 2010 on the British television show The X Factor, a talent contest for aspiring singers. Each of the five members auditioned and originally competed as a solo performer, but early in the season they were advised to pool their talents.

What is the story behind One Direction?

One Direction, often shortened to 1D, is an English-Irish pop boy band formed in London, England in 2010. ... The group signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records after forming and finishing third in the seventh series of the British televised singing competition The X Factor in 2010.

Why did 1D get apart?

In that same 2017 interview, when asked why the band agreed to take a hiatus, Styles told Rolling Stone he "didn't want to exhaust [the band's] fan base" and spoke for the other members saying, "We all thought too much of the group to let that happen." ... The band changed my life, gave me everything."