So Zayn is out and the other four remain. Since forming in 2010, One Direction have achieved global status and become the world's most popular boy band. We look back at their highs and, well, higher highs.
August 2010: Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, LouisTomlinson and Niall Horan all audition separately for The X Factor. They were then put together during the show's Bootcamp stage.
December 2010: After they'd finished third on The X Factor, Simon Cowell signs the boys to his SyCo label.
September 2011: Their first single, What Makes You Beautiful, is released and charts at number one in the UK.
November 2011: 1D prepare to take on America through a deal with Columbia Records. In the UK they release their first album, Up All Night.
December 2011: They head out on their first headline tour of the UK and Ireland.
September 2012: Live While We're Young, the first single from their second album, is released.
November 2012: Their second number one single comes in the shape of Little Things and it's quickly followed by a second album, Take Me Home, which also tops the UK charts.
February 2013: 1D embark on their biggest tour which visits the UK, Ireland, North America and Australia.
November 2013: Cowell works them hard and a third album, Midnight Memories, is released and goes to the top of the UK charts.
August 2013: One Direction are named the world’s best-selling artist with Midnight Memories selling four million copies.
April 2014: Graduating to stadiums, the band head out on a huge world tour.
September 2014: Their fourth album, Four, hits the top of iTunes chart in 67 countries ahead of its release.
November 2014: Harry, Zayn, Louis, Liam and Nial land their third UK chart-topping album in three years, with Four.
December 2014: Four becomes their fourth consecutive US number one.
March 2015: as they tour the Caribbean, Zayn Malik sensationally quit the boyband's On the Road Again tour, citing stress as the reason for returning to the UK.
March 25, 2015: A statement released to the media reads: "After five incredible years, Zayn Malik has decided to leave One Direction."
