Taking to the Jonathan Ross Show this weekend, One Direction spoke to the host about their former bandmate Zayn Malik, who decided to part ways with the rest of the group earlier this year.
Asking who was closest to Zayn before his departure, Louis Tomlinson said: "I think when we were in the band, yeah probably, maybe that was me.
"You know, I think we all kind of noticed that he wasn't thoroughly enjoying it and we were and you know it can be an intense job at times and I think it got a little bit too much for him and he wanted to be in a different place and that's fair enough and he's gone his own way now so fair dos."
Pushing Louis for details of his current relationship with Zayn, Ross asked: "Are you still close to him now, do you speak to him much?"
Talking about the last time they spoke, Louis said: "I don't know, a couple of weeks ago or something... I think he wants to distance himself a little bit."
One Direction perform two songs live on the show - 'Drag Me Down' and 'Perfect' - and also chat about life on the road and their upcoming hiatus.
Harry Styles said of feeling more at home on the road than back in his hometown: "I don't know if it's so much longing for the other side, I know grass is always greener type thing but sometimes it's more just a realisation that sometimes you realise you feel more comfortable on the road than you do at home. If you're at home for a few days then you might be like, well for the last four years we've been moving so much you kinda don't know what to do with yourself sometimes if you're actually at home. So it'll be nice just doing that for a while."
He insists that he's happy with everything though, and when asked if he thinks the group have ever missed out on normal life, he responds: "I don't think we'd change anything we all feel very lucky to have had this opportunity and I think if we sat and started thinking, 'I wish we'd played more pubs or clubs' it'd be a silly way of looking at it."
The boys also confirmed that they will "definitely" be coming back to the world of music following their break.
The Jonathan Ross Show broadcasts tomorrow, Saturday November 21 at 10.40pm on ITV.
Tagged in Jonathan Ross One Direction Zayn Malik