Previously unseen footage of One Direction’s time as contestants on The X Factor 2011 has been released.
The X Factor UK shared 30 minutes of previously unseen footage this week, writing in the caption of the video, “You’ve seen how they were put together, and extra unaired footage of their solo auditions, but now, we’re bringing you UNSEEN and EXTENDED footage of One Direction’s first-ever moments together as a group at Judges’ Houses. And did we mention there’s a SECOND PERFORMANCE that’s NEVER been seen before?!”
The footage shows the newly formed One Direction practising their cover version of Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn,” with this becoming a fan favourite track as they progressed through the competition.
The footage also shows a previously unseen performance of Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” at the Judges’ Houses stage. One Direction performed the track to their mentor, Simon Cowell, before being given the news that they’d be progressing to the live show portion of the competition.
The X Factor UK released the video 10 years after One Direction’s feature film, One Direction: This Is Us was released.
‘One Direction: This Is Us’ was released 10 years ago. pic.twitter.com/EXtZ4VvGTc
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 28, 2023
Fans of the boy band have celebrated the new footage on social media, as new One Direction content has been in short supply since their indefinite hiatus was announced back in 2016.
BABE WAKE UP THERES NEW ONE DIRECTION CONTENT IN 2023 https://t.co/ROs5UFsPQt — annie RWRB LOCKDOWN !!!! (@gleefulstyIes) August 30, 2023
Questions of a reunion have circled the band members for years, with Niall Horan addressing the matter with Zane Lowe earlier this year.
Horan said, “It’s just like the conversation hasn’t happened. It’s a great legacy to have. No, I don’t think [asking about the reunion] sucks the air out the room. It’s more, the answer’s still the same. The conversation hasn’t happened. God knows whether it ends up being — it could be like the Friends reunion, it could be a whole tour. God knows what it is, but no, it hasn’t been spoken about.”
Zayn Malik also addressed the hiatus on the Call Her Daddy podcast, saying, “There were obviously underlying issues. Like within our friendships, too. We’ve been together every day for five years, and we got sick of each other, if I’m being completely honest. So we were close.”
Each former member of One Direction has continued with a solo career since the group’s hiatus, with no plans for a reunion currently in the works.