Louis Tomlinson thanks fans for support over mother's death ahead of X Factor performance in her memory

Support: the singer will perform on the X Factor final tonight
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
Tom Powell10 December 2016
The Weekender

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One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has thanked fans for their support following the death of his mother ahead of his performance in her memory on The X Factor.

Johannah Deakin, 43, died on Wednesday after a battle with leukaemia and tonight Tomlinson will pay tribute to her during the show as the final three contestants fight it out to be named 2016 champion.

The singer, 24, wrote on Twitter: "All the support has been incredible! Let's do this together tonight ."

He will return to the show where One Direction found fame in 2010, when they finished third behind Rebecca Ferguson and eventual winner Matt Cardle.

Other members of the boyband have rushed to offer words of support to Tomlinson on social media, while the mother of his son Freddie, Briana Jungwirth, has also paid tribute.

As well as pop superstar Louis, Mrs Deakin has left behind six other children. They are Lottie, 18, Felicite, 16, twins Daisy and Phoebe, 12, and another set of twins Ernest and Doris, aged two.

She was also grandmother to Louis’ ten-month-old son Freddie.

A statement from the family said: “It is with immeasurable sadness that Johannah Deakin's family said goodbye to Johannah in the early hours of Wednesday 7th December 2016.

“Earlier this year Johannah was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukaemia that required immediate and continuous treatment. We respectfully request that the family are given time and space to grieve in private.”

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