Louis Tomlinson has praised his late mum for keeping him grounded during his One Direction days and as a solo star.

He credited the skills his mother, Johannah Deakin, taught him for helping navigate through the crazy world of celebrity whilst remaining sane.

Tomlinson told Metro whilst accepting their Celeb of the Year 2018 Award: ‘I think I have good values. I just take how I am as a person into my life in this crazy celebrity world.

‘I still like to be respectful. I think it is important at a time like this to have the confidence to own our opinions and not follow.

‘It’s important you retain who you are. I am pedantic to that point. I didn’t grow up with a lot. I do have that luxury of not just seeing a spoiled life. I was lucky enough to be in a band like One Direction and it has shown me both sides.’

Deakin died at the young age of 43 from leukaemia on December 7 2016, just three days before Tomlinson performed live on The X Factor with Steve Aoki where he sang the lyrics:

"It's not over 'til your dying breath. What do you want them to say when you're gone? If you gave up or you kept going on."