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.