Liam Payne funeral sees BBC presenter Adrian Chiles turn up in poignant tribute

Close family, friends and famous faces today gathered for the funeral of former One Direction star Liam Payne.

Among the celebrities at St Mary's church in Amersham, England, was broadcaster Adrian Chiles, who met Liam while he was on the X Factor, the show on which One Direction was formed before they surged to superstardom.

Chiles arrived to pay his respects to Liam, who tragically passed away last month at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, wearing a West Bromwich Albion coat. The former singer was a huge Baggies fan just like the BBC presenter.

READ MORE: Liam Payne funeral latest updates as One Direction members join mourners at church

READ MORE: One Direction stars arrive at Liam Payne funeral as mourners gather to pay respects

Shortly after Liam's passing, Chiles spoke of their friendship and their mutual love of the Midlands club – and how their very first meeting came by virtue of them both supporting West Brom.

"I got to know him when he first did X Factor. He came up to me and said 'up the Albion' - he was a West Brom fan," Chiles said on the BBC after Payne's passing.

"Just as a sign as to how massive he was, I remember we snuck him into a Boxing Day game and I think his mum and dad came and sat with me.

"But we managed to secrete our man up in the commentary gantry so he didn't get bothered. Then a friend of mine texted me to ask "why are West Brom trending number one on Twitter?"

"I went, 'Well it could be because Liam Payne is here and he tweeted he was here and the whole world went mad for it!'"

During his appearance in Soccer Aid, the annual charity football match, in 2022, Liam, who was born in Wolverhampton, proudly declared himself a "huge West Brom supporter". "I don't get to the games as often as I'd like, though," he confessed. Follow live updates of the funeral service here.

After his death, the Championship club paid tribute to Payne, who was also reportedly a season-ticket holder, like Chiles.

"We’re shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Baggies fan and musician, Liam Payne," West Brom wrote after the singer's tragic death.

"Our thoughts are with Liam’s family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time."