The late pop star, who was only 14 when he first auditioned for the reality talent competition show in 2008, sang the Frank Sinatra classic “Fly Me To The Moon.”<br /><br />Following Payne’s performance, judge Simon Cowell told him, “I think there is potential with you, Liam.”<br /><br />“I’m just missing a bit of grit, a bit of emotion, and actually a bit of fun, funny enough,” he added.<br /><br />Fellow judge Cheryl Cole — whom Payne later dated and welcomed a son with before the couple ultimately split in 2018 — said Payne was “really cute,” pointing to his “charisma” and his “cheeky wink.”<br /><br />Meanwhile, judge Louis Walsh told Payne back at his 2008 audition, “I think this kid could do fantastic on the show.”<br /><br />Cowell chimed in, “You’re a young guy, good-looking, people will like you. But there’s 20% missing from you at the moment.”<br /><br />Payne replied, “Well, give me another audition and I’ll show you I got that 20%.”
