Netflix has premiered “Building the Band,” a new 10-episode singing competition that doubles as the final screen appearance of One Direction singer Liam Payne, who died in October 2024 at age 31. The season opened on 9 July with host AJ McLean dedicating the series to Payne and his family, telling viewers the production team “never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend.” Filmed two months before Payne’s fatal fall from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony, the show features the British artist as a guest judge alongside Kelly Rowland and mentor-judge Nicole Scherzinger. Executives at producer Remarkable said they decided to proceed with the programme after extensive talks with Payne’s relatives, who have publicly expressed pride in the posthumous release. The format brings 50 singers into sound-isolated pods where, without seeing one another, they must form six self-selected bands that later perform for the panel. Netflix is rolling out the competition in three weekly batches, with the first four episodes now streaming and the remaining instalments due on 16 and 23 July. Colleagues recall Payne’s on-set energy and detailed feedback to contestants, traits Scherzinger described as evidence that the series was his “happy place.” While early critics have been mixed on the show itself, several reviews single out Payne’s warmth and mentorship as its standout element, underscoring the emotional weight of the dedication.