Simon Cowell confirms Louis Tomlinson baby news

Music mogul Simon Cowell has confirmed One Direction's Louis Tomlinson is set to become a father.

The X Factor boss revealed Tomlinson came to him immediately after finding out Los Angeles-based stylist Briana Jungwirth was pregnant, but he is adamant the baby news will not tarnish the British boyband's image.

Cowell tells The Sun on Sunday newspaper, "I said to him, 'You man up. You're fortunate because you're in a position to be able to look after the baby and not worry too much about that.' But I also told him, 'I've received bad calls in my life but this is not one of them. This is your business but I'm here for you'.

"He didn't kill anyone. He got someone pregnant. It happens every day all over the world. Again, Louis has got great family around him and, look, it's a plus, not a negative."

Cowell also confirmed One Direction will be taking time off next year (16) after releasing their fifth album, adding, "In terms of the band, they've got enough hits now they can take some time off and do some other stuff they want to do. Then I hope they'll have a little bit of time apart and want to get back together again. It's a fun job, but it's absolutely their decision."

The One Direction boss' confirmation comes after Tomlinson's bandmate Liam Payne seemingly hinted at the pregnancy news by discussing baby names during a show in Vancouver, Canada on Friday (17Jul15).

He spotted a pregnant woman in the crowd and asked his fellow singers, "Boys, any boy names for a boy who is being born? Congratulations by the way."

After Harry Styles suggested his own name, Payne told the crowd, "Yeah maybe... we're trying to name a baby boy, help us out."