One Direction have revealed their plans to celebrate their 10th anniversary.
Fans were pinning their hopes on the five piece, which includes Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, all 26, Zayn Malik, 27, and Louis Tomlinson, 28, to finally reunite.
However the coronavirus pandemic has halted any potential plans for the boyband to meet for a special appearance, which Liam teased earlier this year.
Exciting! One Direction have revealed their plans to celebrate their 10th anniversary
Instead the band will commemorate their anniversary by launching a celebration website, complete with a special video made for their fans.
They will also launch interactive playlists and activations across digital platforms on July 23, which will mark 10 years since the band first got together.
The website will take the form of a timeline charting the history of the group, from the first audition right up to the start of their hiatus.
It will host an archive of music videos, artwork, TV performances, behind-the-scenes and rarely-seen content, all in one place.
Reunion: Fans were pinning their hopes on the five piece, which includes Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, all 26, Zayn Malik, 27, and Louis Tomlinson, 28, to finally reunite
Meanwhile, the video will document highlights of the band’s career, from forming on The X Factor to releasing their single History, including clips from music videos, performances and candid behind the scenes video content.
One Direction are a global phenomenon and have sold over 200 million records worldwide, with over 21 billion streams across all streaming platforms.
The band have won nearly 200 awards including 7 BRIT Awards, 4 MTV Music Awards, 6 Billboard Music Awards, 7 American Music Awards and 28 Kids Choice Awards.
Saving 2020: One Direction fans were convinced the boys would reunite for the band’s 10-year anniversary
Happier times: The news of their extended break was first revealed in August 2015, just a few months after Zayn unexpectedly quit the band (pictured on The X Factor in 2010)
In May earlier this year, Niall quashed rumours of a One Direction reunion, saying the band is not getting back together for the time being.
The singer was chatting to Jamie Redknapp ahead of the band’s much discussed 10-year anniversary in July.
But the Irish songwriter said no plans were in place to reform the pop group which went on hiatus in 2016.
‘For now, no’: Niall previously quashed rumours of a One Direction reunion in a discussion with Jamie Redknapp on Redknapp’s Home Fixture
Speaking on Redknapp’s Home Fixture, to be broadcast on Friday night, Jamie joked to Niall: ‘We’ve got to chat reunions because everyone wants to know, because if it happens, it’s going to make lockdown worthwhile, it will cheer up the whole nation.
‘It’s the musical reunion we all want to see, do you think Oasis are going to get back together?’
Jamie then quizzed the former boyband member about a reunion, but Niall dampened speculation, saying: ‘There was a bit of talk about it because in July it’s ten years since the band got together, so everyone was waiting to see if anything was going to happen.
Disappointing fans: Rumours had been abounding about an anniversary reunion to mark 10 years since the band was formed, but Niall told Jamie (left) it was unlikely
Hopeful: The Irish songwriter said he had discussed plans with the other band members but they won’t be getting the band back together for now
‘We’ve been chatting about it, little bits and pieces that we can do, but nothing in terms of getting the band back together, so for now, no.’
Liam previously said reuniting with his former band mates still ‘seemed very hopeful.’
Speaking to People Magazine, he said the band were ‘in the middle of [figuring out] what to do’ to mark their anniversary in July.
‘Obviously, we know it’s a very big anniversary and we definitely want to do something,’ the Strip That Down singer said. ‘I mean, it’s a tough one. I can’t promise any reunion plans because it just isn’t it right now.’
Hopeful: Liam said reuniting with former One Direction band mates still ‘seemed very hopeful’
He added: ‘I always put it down to music language because everyone’s releasing at the moment with like two years worth of promo. But, you know, it still seems very hopeful in that department. I’m starting to think it’s gonna happen at some point. So it’s exciting.’
One Direction were put together in 2010 by Simon Cowell after each member auditioned for the X Factor but failed to make it to the Judge’s Houses stage as solo acts.
Despite reports the band in reunion talks, a source has claimed the plans may not come to fruition due to the band’s tour commitments and the nationwide lockdown.
A source told The Sun: ‘A reunion with all five members is a wonderful idea but in practice these things take a long time to arrange and it doesn’t seem feasible at the moment.
Rumours of a reunion were sparked when each of the band members refollowed Zayn on social media.