This chapter details the origin story of One Direction, and the five boys who left home to audition for a TV singing competition and never really went back. Maddie Grace Jepson was 11-years-old when she sat down in front of her family TV and saw them: Harry, Niall, Louis, Liam and Zayn.

Nothing would ever be the same.

Was it obvious from the start that they were destined for world domination? How did the fandom show their devotion in those early days?

Featuring interviews with song writer and X Factor vocal coach, Savan Kotecha and Radio 1 Presenter, Matt Edmondson.

Archive in this episode:

The X Factor, Series 7, ITV
One Direction Video Diaries, The X Factor UK, YouTube.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Warner Bros.

Presenter: Maddie Grace Jepson
Producer: Gráinne Morrison
Written by Gráinne Morrison
Assistant Producer: Zayna Shaikh
Technical Producer: Ant Danbury
BBC Audio Editor: Andy Worrell
Commissioning producers: Jonathan O’Sullivan, Sarah Gosling
Commissioner for BBC Music: Will Wilkin Show less