One Direction’s Liam Payne worked with Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger on Netflix’s Building The Band prior to his death last year and the show is set to be released this year
The late Liam Payne’s family are said to have given their blessing for his “final” TV show to be released this year. It comes following the news that Netflix will launch Building the Band, which features him as a judge, over the summer.
Liam filmed the reality TV show just months before he died, aged 31, in October last year. He was on the judging panel alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland, with all three of the judges having been in bands themselves.
There had been some speculation about the show’s future following Liam’s death, and it was announced by Netflix earlier this month that Building The Band will air later this year. The show is now set to launch “later this summer”.
It has since been reported that Liam’s family have backed plans to air the show, which he’s said to have finished filming just two months before his death. Producers reportedly provided footage to some of his loved ones in advance.
A source told the Sun: “Liam was on great form at filming so everyone’s pleased fans will get to see the ‘real’ him one last time.” They added that it will be “bittersweet” when Building the Band is released by the streaming platform.
The source continued: “Netflix have gone out of their way to make sure his family are happy.” They concluded by saying: “Producers sent them the footage so they are fully aware of what to expect and they have given it their blessing.”
Building the Band was announced last year. It was revealed that Liam, who was a member of One Direction, would be joined by the Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole and Destiny’s Child member Kelly on the judging panel for the TV project.
They aren’t the only cast members with experience of being in the group, though, as the host comes from a similar career background. The show will be hosted by AJ McLean, who is best known as a member of the Backstreet Boys.
Netflix has teased that the show aims to put together a musical group “without any of the members ever seeing each other”. It’s said that the judges bring their “unparalleled expertise” and “personal band experience” to the competition.
The streaming platform said earlier this month that the show gives a group of “talented singers” the “opportunity of a lifetime”. It teases that they are given the chance to “find their perfect bandmates solely based on musical compatibility, connection, and, most importantly, merit”.
Last year, executive producer Cat Lawson described the show as “brave” and “bold”. They said: “Building the Band is a brave and bold undertaking for all involved as we hand over power to the singers themselves to form their own band based on chemistry first.”
Cat added: “With looks out of the equation, can they create a deeper connection with their bandmates? With limited bands, there are difficult decisions and heart-stopping moments along the way, but ultimately the outcome is truly amazing, with bands forming who, in my opinion, are worthy of the very biggest stage!”
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