One Direction are doing ''absolutely great'' without Zayn Malik.

The 22-year-old singer made a shock departure from the chart-topping boy band earlier this year and Harry Styles has insisted the group are coping fine without him when it comes to their live shows.

Speaking about the band's world tour - which is due to hit North America next - he said: ''The only changes [to the live shows] have been that the parts Zayn sang have been picked up by different people. Other than that, the shows have been going absolutely great.

''It would be pretty devastating if we took that song ['Story Of My Life'] out. Liam [Payne] stepped up to do the high notes. He kicks them in the b******s every show. He doesn't hold back. The other guys have picked up [Zayn's] parts. We all know the songs well enough to do that.''

Since Zayn's hasty departure, Harry, Liam, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson have been working on material for their new album, with the 21-year-old star teasing a ''new identity'' for the group.

He added to Entertainment Weekly: ''We're currently recording and writing our next album, so we'll be working on that. The songs are coming together quickly, so we're buzzing with the new stuff.

''It carries a slightly new identity, but I think it's an obvious change from ['FOUR'] in a positive way. We've branched out and worked with different writers, and we've got some great songs!''