Niall Horan teams up with Ellie Goulding in studio

One Direction heartthrob Niall Horan is already starting work away from the boyband by teaming up with British pop star Ellie Goulding to write new songs.

The What Makes You Beautiful stars are going on a lengthy hiatus next year (16), a move that has left some fans fearing the band will never reunite.

Now Burn singer Ellie has revealed Niall has already lined up some work away from the group as the pair is heading into a studio to work on new tracks together.

"I'm going to write with him," Ellie tells British newspaper The Sun, ""He's a really good guitarist and he's funny, cheeky, really cool. He's been my friend for quite a few years so I'm really up for it."

Niall's bandmate Harry Styles will also reportedly try his luck as a solo star, while Louis Tomlinson has expressed an interest in TV, possibly helping out his label boss Simon Cowell on Britain's The X Factor. It is not known what path fourth member Liam Payne will pursue.

Earlier this year (15), Zayn Malik quit the band, and Ellie is convinced all the singers will flourish away from One Direction, adding, "They've got years ahead of them," she says. "They can all sing and I don't know about you but I love every song they release. I think they've got amazing taste in pop songs and they work with the right people so I think they could all succeed."