New dad Liam Payne bingeing on daytime television

Liam Payne has a new hobby since becoming a first-time father - watching daytime television.

The former One Direction heartthrob welcomed a baby boy with popstar girlfriend Cheryl on 22 March (17), and confirmed this week that the pair have called their first born, Bear.

And as he headed to London for some meetings on Tuesday, Liam revealed that the new parents are keeping themselves entertained by watching the box at their home in Surrey.

As one fan approached Liam and asked him for an autograph, the singer asked the man: "Were you on Judge Rinder?"

Judge Rinder is a U.K. TV court show which sees criminal barrister Robert Rinder, a close friend of Benedict Cumberbatch, oversee a variety of civil cases.

When the man replied that he was on Judge Rinder, Liam replied: "I saw you, I saw you... There’s a lot of daytime TV at home now we’ve got the baby!"

Liam then revealed that he has yet to watch the finale of that episode, telling the man: "I didn’t see the end so don’t tell me what happened! Just say you won!"

The 23-year-old singer then happily posed up for photographs with the legions of fans who had waited in the hope of catching a glimpse of their idol, and told the group that Bear was "good" when he was asked about the tot's wellbeing.

Liam's outing came after TV adventurer Bear Grylls contacted him and Cheryl to heap praise on the chosen name.

"Great choice!" he posted on Twitter. "Love & blessings to you guys as you start on the greatest adventure... @CherylOfficial @LiamPayne."

Liam then responded to Grylls' tweet with a warm message of his own, in which he confirmed his son's name.

"Thanks man," Liam wrote, adding, "hope he grows with an ounce of your courage! Your (sic) a boss."