Watching him strut his stuff on X Factor, fans would never believe that Liam Payne was once so terrified of the spotlight he had to be literally pushed on stage.

But those who have seen him grow from a shy youngster to a star, today said they always knew he would make the big time.

The boyband favourite has his two older sisters to thank for sparking his interest in showbusiness.

* See more pictures of Liam Payne by clicking on the image on the right.

The shy 13-year-old would watch on the sidelines as they rehearsed in draughty church halls with Wolverhampton-based stage school Pink Productions.

Four years on, it is 21-year-old Nicola and 19-year-old Ruth who are standing in his shadows as their little brother takes centre stage on national TV performing in front of millions of viewers and a panel of celebrity judges.

Witnessing it all has been Jodie Richards, their teacher at the performing arts group, who recalls the promise he showed from an early age, as well as the pranks he loved to play.

“He was really timid when he first started,” said Jodie, 27. “He wanted to sing after watching his sisters so he joined us by taking a singing-only role in his first show.

“But  I literally had to push him on to the stage he was so petrified.

“Who would have thought it when you see him on X-Factor today?”

After an encouraging response from the girls in the group Liam decided to do the next show as a full cast member, and his confidence steadily soared.

“It was clear very early on that Liam had something special and that he had a natural talent,” she said.

“He started taking on some big singing numbers, such as Tony Manero, the John Travolta part in Saturday Night Fever and Billy Flynn, the  part Richard Gere played in Chicago, and he’s stayed with us right up until the latest X Factor auditions, taking part in three or four shows a year.

“I speak to him every day on the phone and told him we want him back for the Christmas production.

“His sisters are really proud of him although they are upset at the thought that this could mean him leaving. They’re a really close family. He and Ruth, who is closest to him in age, are always larking about.”

She said the group were all behind his first auditions for the ITV show two years ago and are backing him to go all the way with boyband One Direction this year.
“We told him to do it for the experience as he was only 14 and he ended up at Simon Cowell’s house in Barbados, only just failing to go through to the live shows,” said Jodie.

“But he was told to try again and he’s spent the last two years working towards that, getting experience and building up a fan base. I’ve taken him on regional tours, singing in clubs and festivals and I think that’s given him the confidence to perform in front of anyone.”

But she says his time in the spotlight has not changed the 17-year-old Wolverhampton College student who, not taking anything for granted, has signed on for the second year in his music technology course.

“He’s a lovely lad with a strong sense of who he is. He’s not big-headed at all. He’s struggled in some roles but he’s not a diva, he would never refuse to do a part. He works hard and he always has,” she said.

“He’s even won a few of our personality trophies through being such a character.”

But she joked: “He can be a nightmare to teach because he starts everyone off.”

Jodie, who teaches dance at Blessed William Howard Catholic High School in Stafford,  recalls being the victim of one of Liam’s pranks when he squashed a tomato on her head. And his winning ways with the girls has inspired top performances from female students eager to join his senior group.

She believes the range of musicals he has taken part in with Pink Productions, from camp rock to action movie and boogie and punk, at their show base at the Mill Theatre in Sedgley, will stand him in good stead for X Factor.

“In my six and a half years running the classes, I must have trained at least 400 pupils and he’s the one who deserves it the most. He said he wanted to be famous and enjoy his life, and I really believe this time he’ll do it.”

She said Liam, of Wychall Drive, Bushbury, is excited by the media attention but has managed to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

“Whatever happens, he’s my star and I love him to bits. I wish him all the success and happiness in the world.”

Information about Pink Productions, and  updates on Liam’s progress, can be found at www.pinkperformingarts.co.uk