One Direction Plans on 'Splitting' in March

The exclusive on the temporary split of the boyband has seen The Sun's head of showbiz Dan Wootton deluged with abuse on Twitter by devastated 1Ders.

A source close to the band told the newspaper: "The guys have been together for five years, which is an incredible run for any boyband.

Former member Zayn Malik left the group in March

"They fully deserve to have at least a year to work on their own projects. There is absolutely no bad blood between them and they are all 100% behind the decision."

But Wooton's exclusive - printed under the headline 1D: It's The End in the newspaper - has seen him faced with angry posts ranging from outright denial and accusations of lying through to foul-mouthed insults and threats.

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1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
6. 
   Fans go wild for the band as they arrive for a morning TV show in Australia on their first tour of the country in 2012
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

One wrote: "Seriously give up already. a break isn't a break up, stop spinning headlines for click bait and ratings".

Someone else tweeted: "Leave one direction alone ... you seriously make up lies just to get money and fame, get a ******* life"

Another said in a post: "Who is Dan Wootton and who put a mouth on it ew kill it,kill it with fire."

However, the tirade against him also earned him plaudits, with one tweeting: "You absolute legend, those teeny boppers tweeting abuse is hilarious."

It is reported 1D performances planned for the rest of the year are expected to go ahead and the band will regroup after Christmas to finish contractual commitments.

There will be no tour for the band's fifth album and their last concert will be in Sheffield in October.

News of the temporary split comes after former member Zayn Malik announced in March he was leaving the band to feel like a "normal 22-year-old" and to pursue a solo career.

In July he tweeted a photo showing him signing a new record contract with RCA Records. He tweeted: "I guess I never explained why I left, it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am! #realmusic #RCA !!"

The Sun quotes the source as saying the remaining members of the group - Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan - were thinking about disbanding with or without Malik.

"This was the plan with or without Zayn," the insider said. "In fact, the band have been making amazing music and been incredibly happy without Zayn.

"Of course they would have preferred that he had stayed in the band, but they would have taken this extended hiatus even if he hadn't left."

Wootton told Sky News: "After five years together they're hungry to try something else.

"There is a lot of demand for Harry Styles to be a big solo artist and launch a Hollywood acting career and there is a lot of speculation that Louis Tomlinson will join the X Factor judging panel next year.

"Liam Payne and Niall Horan are interested in pursuing their songwriting careers."

                           PHOTOS OF ONE DIRECTION OVER THE YEARS

1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
6. 
   Fans go wild for the band as they arrive for a morning TV show in Australia on their first tour of the country in 2012
7. 
   Performing in Sydney, Australia
8. 
   Attending the Logie Awards, Australia's annual television awards
9. 
   Performing at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games at the Olympic stadium
10. 
11. 
    Louis Tomlinson takes selfies with fans on the red carpet of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in L.A.
12. 
    Accepting the MTV Video Music Award for best pop video
13. 
    One Direction get mobbed by fans as they perform on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards
14. 
    The band's success overseas, especially in America, earned them the Global Success Award at the Brit Awards in 2013
15. 
    Later in the year, they attend the Teen Choice Awards in California...
16. 
    And pick up the Teen Group surfboard
17. 
    Performing on ABC's Good Morning America in September 2013
18. 
    This was the reception at the World premiere of One Direction: This Is Us in London, August 2013
19. 
    At the New York premiere of the documentary film
20. 
    Tomlinson makes his debut for Doncaster Rovers in February 2014
21. 
    Posing with their awards at the Brits in February 2014
22. 
    The boys pose for photographs at Wembley Arena as they made the wishes of 60 seriously ill children come true and met the children prior to performing in June, 2014
23. 
    The band at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in September, 2014 in Las Vegas
24. 
    Styles appears on NBC's Today Show to release their new album Four at Universal Orlando November, 2014
25. 
    Tomlinson has some fun at the event
26. 
27. 
    Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, meets the band at the Royal Variety Performance in support of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, at the Palladium Theatre in November, 2014
28. 
    Accepting the favourite pop/rock album award for Midnight Memories onstage at the American Music Awards in November, 2014
29. 
    Liam Payne arrives to record the new Band Aid single in November 2014
30. 
    At a photocall for the 40 Principales awards in Madrid in December 2014
31. 
    One Direction members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan on a chat show at the end of 2014
32. 
    Horan enjoys a tennis match at the Australian Open in January 2015
33. 
    One Direction kick off their On The Road Again world tour in Sydney. Just a few weeks later, Zayn Malik quit the band mid-tour
34. 
    This was Zayn's first public outing after announcing he was leaving the group. He attended the Asian awards with his mother, Trisha in April 2015
35. 
    The first official photo of One Direction as a foursome
36. 
    One Direction win two awards at the Billboard Music awards in Las Vegas, May 2015
37. 
    Zayn signs a solo deal with RCA Records, July 2015
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
6. 
   Fans go wild for the band as they arrive for a morning TV show in Australia on their first tour of the country in 2012
7. 
   Performing in Sydney, Australia
8. 
   Attending the Logie Awards, Australia's annual television awards
9. 
   Performing at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games at the Olympic stadium
10. 
11. 
    Louis Tomlinson takes selfies with fans on the red carpet of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in L.A.
12. 
    Accepting the MTV Video Music Award for best pop video
13. 
    One Direction get mobbed by fans as they perform on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards
14. 
    The band's success overseas, especially in America, earned them the Global Success Award at the Brit Awards in 2013
15. 
    Later in the year, they attend the Teen Choice Awards in California...
16. 
    And pick up the Teen Group surfboard
17. 
    Performing on ABC's Good Morning America in September 2013
18. 
    This was the reception at the World premiere of One Direction: This Is Us in London, August 2013
19. 
    At the New York premiere of the documentary film
20. 
    Tomlinson makes his debut for Doncaster Rovers in February 2014
21. 
    Posing with their awards at the Brits in February 2014
22. 
    The boys pose for photographs at Wembley Arena as they made the wishes of 60 seriously ill children come true and met the children prior to performing in June, 2014
23. 
    The band at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in September, 2014 in Las Vegas
24. 
    Styles appears on NBC's Today Show to release their new album Four at Universal Orlando November, 2014
25. 
    Tomlinson has some fun at the event
26. 
27. 
    Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, meets the band at the Royal Variety Performance in support of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, at the Palladium Theatre in November, 2014
28. 
    Accepting the favourite pop/rock album award for Midnight Memories onstage at the American Music Awards in November, 2014
29. 
    Liam Payne arrives to record the new Band Aid single in November 2014
30. 
    At a photocall for the 40 Principales awards in Madrid in December 2014
31. 
    One Direction members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan on a chat show at the end of 2014
32. 
    Horan enjoys a tennis match at the Australian Open in January 2015
33. 
    One Direction kick off their On The Road Again world tour in Sydney. Just a few weeks later, Zayn Malik quit the band mid-tour
34. 
    This was Zayn's first public outing after announcing he was leaving the group. He attended the Asian awards with his mother, Trisha in April 2015
35. 
    The first official photo of One Direction as a foursome
36. 
    One Direction win two awards at the Billboard Music awards in Las Vegas, May 2015
37. 
    Zayn signs a solo deal with RCA Records, July 2015
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
8. 
   Attending the Logie Awards, Australia's annual television awards
9. 
   Performing at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games at the Olympic stadium
10. 
11. 
    Louis Tomlinson takes selfies with fans on the red carpet of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in L.A.
12. 
    Accepting the MTV Video Music Award for best pop video
13. 
    One Direction get mobbed by fans as they perform on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards
14. 
    The band's success overseas, especially in America, earned them the Global Success Award at the Brit Awards in 2013
15. 
    Later in the year, they attend the Teen Choice Awards in California...
16. 
    And pick up the Teen Group surfboard
17. 
    Performing on ABC's Good Morning America in September 2013
18. 
    This was the reception at the World premiere of One Direction: This Is Us in London, August 2013
19. 
    At the New York premiere of the documentary film
20. 
    Tomlinson makes his debut for Doncaster Rovers in February 2014
21. 
    Posing with their awards at the Brits in February 2014
22. 
    The boys pose for photographs at Wembley Arena as they made the wishes of 60 seriously ill children come true and met the children prior to performing in June, 2014
23. 
    The band at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in September, 2014 in Las Vegas
24. 
    Styles appears on NBC's Today Show to release their new album Four at Universal Orlando November, 2014
25. 
    Tomlinson has some fun at the event
26. 
27. 
    Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, meets the band at the Royal Variety Performance in support of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, at the Palladium Theatre in November, 2014
28. 
    Accepting the favourite pop/rock album award for Midnight Memories onstage at the American Music Awards in November, 2014
29. 
    Liam Payne arrives to record the new Band Aid single in November 2014
30. 
    At a photocall for the 40 Principales awards in Madrid in December 2014
31. 
    One Direction members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan on a chat show at the end of 2014
32. 
    Horan enjoys a tennis match at the Australian Open in January 2015
33. 
    One Direction kick off their On The Road Again world tour in Sydney. Just a few weeks later, Zayn Malik quit the band mid-tour
34. 
    This was Zayn's first public outing after announcing he was leaving the group. He attended the Asian awards with his mother, Trisha in April 2015
35. 
    The first official photo of One Direction as a foursome
36. 
    One Direction win two awards at the Billboard Music awards in Las Vegas, May 2015
37. 
    Zayn signs a solo deal with RCA Records, July 2015
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
8. 
   Attending the Logie Awards, Australia's annual television awards
9. 
   Performing at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games at the Olympic stadium
10. 
11. 
    Louis Tomlinson takes selfies with fans on the red carpet of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in L.A.
12. 
    Accepting the MTV Video Music Award for best pop video
13. 
    One Direction get mobbed by fans as they perform on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards
14. 
    The band's success overseas, especially in America, earned them the Global Success Award at the Brit Awards in 2013
15. 
    Later in the year, they attend the Teen Choice Awards in California...
16. 
    And pick up the Teen Group surfboard
17. 
    Performing on ABC's Good Morning America in September 2013
18. 
    This was the reception at the World premiere of One Direction: This Is Us in London, August 2013
19. 
    At the New York premiere of the documentary film
20. 
    Tomlinson makes his debut for Doncaster Rovers in February 2014
21. 
    Posing with their awards at the Brits in February 2014
22. 
    The boys pose for photographs at Wembley Arena as they made the wishes of 60 seriously ill children come true and met the children prior to performing in June, 2014
23. 
    The band at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in September, 2014 in Las Vegas
24. 
    Styles appears on NBC's Today Show to release their new album Four at Universal Orlando November, 2014
25. 
    Tomlinson has some fun at the event
26. 
27. 
    Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, meets the band at the Royal Variety Performance in support of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, at the Palladium Theatre in November, 2014
28. 
    Accepting the favourite pop/rock album award for Midnight Memories onstage at the American Music Awards in November, 2014
29. 
    Liam Payne arrives to record the new Band Aid single in November 2014
30. 
    At a photocall for the 40 Principales awards in Madrid in December 2014
31. 
    One Direction members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan on a chat show at the end of 2014
32. 
    Horan enjoys a tennis match at the Australian Open in January 2015
33. 
    One Direction kick off their On The Road Again world tour in Sydney. Just a few weeks later, Zayn Malik quit the band mid-tour
34. 
    This was Zayn's first public outing after announcing he was leaving the group. He attended the Asian awards with his mother, Trisha in April 2015
35. 
    The first official photo of One Direction as a foursome
36. 
    One Direction win two awards at the Billboard Music awards in Las Vegas, May 2015
37. 
    Zayn signs a solo deal with RCA Records, July 2015
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
6. 
   Fans go wild for the band as they arrive for a morning TV show in Australia on their first tour of the country in 2012
7. 
   Performing in Sydney, Australia
8. 
   Attending the Logie Awards, Australia's annual television awards
9. 
   Performing at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games at the Olympic stadium
10. 
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
6. 
   Fans go wild for the band as they arrive for a morning TV show in Australia on their first tour of the country in 2012
7. 
   Performing in Sydney, Australia
8. 
   Attending the Logie Awards, Australia's annual television awards
9. 
   Performing at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games at the Olympic stadium
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
6. 
   Fans go wild for the band as they arrive for a morning TV show in Australia on their first tour of the country in 2012
7. 
   Performing in Sydney, Australia
8. 
   Attending the Logie Awards, Australia's annual television awards
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

1. 
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
6. 
   Fans go wild for the band as they arrive for a morning TV show in Australia on their first tour of the country in 2012
7. 
   Performing in Sydney, Australia
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor

1. 
   

   
   Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
2. 
   November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
3. 
   With mentor Simon Cowell at the press conference for the X Factor final. They came third in the TV talent show
4. 
   The fresh-faced group attend the GQ Men of the year awards in September 2011
5. 
   Performing at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012
6. 
   Fans go wild for the band as they arrive for a morning TV show in Australia on their first tour of the country in 2012
38. 
    Days later, One Direction group release a surprise new single, Drag Me Down - their first as a foursome
39. 
    November 2010: A newly formed boyband, One Direction, attend the UK premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 while taking part in the X Factor
40.