One Direction film premiere hits London
Fans of British boyband One Direction were expected to bring central London to a standstill on Tuesday as the group launch their first film with a glitzy red carpet premiere.
Teenage girls camped out overnight to secure prime spots, hoping to catch a glimpse of the five singers when they turn up for the first screening of "One Direction: This Is Us".
The film, made by "Super Size Me" director Morgan Spurlock, shows the group in concert at London's O2 Arena, along with fly-on-the-wall footage showing what life is like inside one of the world's biggest bands.
They have topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first British act to top the Billboard chart with their debut album.
The Sun newspaper said around 70,000 fans were expected to descend on Leicester Square, the cinema-packed traditional home of UK film premieres.
Given the likely interest, organisers were setting up special areas so fans nicknamed "Directioners" could view the red carpet action safely.
"We would like to remind fans that the red carpet is being streamed live all over the world, so they can get the best views from the comfort of their own homes," organisers said.
The group comprises Irish-born Niall Horan, 19, Zayn Malik, 20, Liam Payne, 19, Harry Styles, 19, and Louis Tomlinson, 21.
The band were put together in 2010 during the television singing competition "The X Factor". They came third in the public vote but the show's mogul Simon Cowell signed them up and they have gone on to become global superstars.
Their hits include "What Makes You Beautiful" from their debut album "Up All Night" and "Live While We're Young" from their other album, "Take Me Home".
One scene features Payne's father talking about how much he misses his son.
The singer told BBC television: "For me that was a bit difficult to watch. He's always so happy when I see him and happy to have me home; to actually see what he's like when I'm not there was a bit mad."
Tomlinson agreed it was "tough" for their parents.
"A lot of families anticipate that once you get to 18 you'll go to university and mothers know that that's the day," he said.
"Whereas for us it kind of just happened out of the blue and our mums just had to wave goodbye to us on 'The X Factor' so I think it was a lot for them to take in at first."
Spurlock said fans would enjoy seeing how "normal" the band are.
"You see five guys who are the same five guys they were three years ago," he said.
