Is One Direction's break permanent or temporary?
Simon Cowell admits he doesn't know whether One Direction have permanently broken up.
Simon Cowell has admitted he is unsure whether One Direction's current break is a permanent or temporary fixture.
Speaking during an interview with Billboard Magazine, Cowell ignited speculation about the band's future, saying: "I don't know if it's a hiatus, or a break up, to be honest."
Cowell added: "In a weird way, I don't want to know. I don't think they've had enough time to experience what it's like not being in a group to really answer that."
Since the break was announced in 2015, the band members have remained very much in the public eye.
Louis Tomlinson is a new father and has a record label, while Liam Payne recently went public with his relationship with The X Factor judge Cheryl Fernande-Versini.
However, fans of the group are mostly concerned with what Harry Styles will do next, and X Factor boss Cowell confirmed the 22-year-old has new material in the pipeline.