Zayn Malik leaves One Direction, announcing that he wants to be 'a normal 22-year-old'

Harry Styles appears to break down in tears on stage, as bookmakers slash the odds on the band splitting up by the end of the year

Zayn Malik of One Direction arrives at Sydney International Airport on February 6, 2015 Photo: Rex Features

By Camilla Turner

10:55PM GMT 25 Mar 2015

Devout One Direction fans struggled to terms with the news that Zayn Malik had left the band, after announcing that he wanted the chance to be "a normal 22-year-old".

The remaining four band members said in a statement that they “respect” his decision, and vowed to continue with their world tour, with their new album still to go ahead as planned.

Malik quit the boyband's tour last week after being "signed off with stress" and returned to the UK after he was forced to defend himself online and declare his love for fiancee Perrie Edwards when pictures emerged of him apparently close to another woman.

On Wednesday he said he wanted “some private time out of the spotlight” and wished the band well for the future.

He said: “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.

“I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart.”
^{Band mates arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London (IAN WEST/PA)}
Following the announcement, bookmakers slashed the odds on the band splitting up for good by the end of the year and on Malik having a solo number one single in the same time frame. William Hill immediately offered 2/1 on the former and 5/1 on the latter.
Emotional tributes poured in throughout the evening on Twitter, and Harry Styles appeared to break down in tears on stage as he apparently struggled to come to terms with the news.

Styles was seen wiping away tears as the band performed the latest leg of their On The Road Again Tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, just hours after the news of Malik's leaving broke.
In a statement, the rest of the group said: "We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future."