Flashback Friday: A Look Back At Other Stars Who Have ‘Done A Zayn’

If you've got an internet connection, you'll have heard that this week Zayn Malik sent One Direction into two directions.

Zayn has since said of leaving the band: “It is crazy and wild and a bit mad. But at the same time I’ve never felt more in control in my life. And I feel like I’m doing what’s right – right by myself and right by the boys, so I feel good.”

Seeing as it's Friday, we're going to take a look back at other stars who have done a Zayn/Geri/Leonnon below...

1. The Spice Girls

**Who left? **Geri. Duh.

**What happened next? **The Spiceys continued their Girl Power mission without Geri for three years, coming back with singles 'Goodbye,' 'Holler' and 'Let Love Lead The Way.' They announced their split in 2000 but came back as a fivesome for a reunion tour in 2007 and performed at the 2012 London Olympics.

2. Westlife

Who left Louis Walsh's dream team? Brian McFadden

What happened next? Westlife are a lesson to all short-staffed pop groups out there. Brian left in 2004, but they continued as a foursome until 2012 racking up four more number one albums.

3. Take That

**Who? **Robbie Williams

**What happened next? **Robbie left in 1995 and then they officially split in February 1996. At the time the boys said of not getting an extra member: "It would be wrong to try and replace Rob, either with another man or between ourselves because he was such an important member. It's just a different group now."

4. S Club 7

Who? Paul

**What happened next? **After his departure in 2002 they dropped the 7 and followed their own advice to 'don't stop, never give up' and continued as S Club. But they didn't quite reach the top, as they released an album which didn't make it into the top 10 and they then split in 2003.

5. Backstreet Boys

Who? Kevin Richardson

**What happened next? **They were going to change their name to 'Backstreet' but decided against it. They released their album 'Unbreakable' the following year. Turns out they really are unbreakable as after six years Kevin returned to the band in 2012.

6. Eternal

Who left? Louise Redknapp

What happened next? Louise left for the band to persue a successful solo career and the band carried on as a trio. They had their first number one single without Louise, 'I Wanna Be The One,' but they went down to a two in 1998 when Kelle Bryan was controversially sacked and then they continued to perform as a twosome until 2000.

7. Sugababes

**Who left? **The question is who hasn't? Siobhan Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan

What happened next? The Sugababes band history is perhaps the most complicated of all. When Siobhan left initially, she was replaced by Atomic Kitten's Heidi Range and they went on to secure several number 1s.

8. Atomic Kitten

Who left? Kerry Katona

What happened next? In 2000 Kerry left because of her pregnancy and she was replaced by Jenny Frost who had success with the band until they split in 2004. Like all early noughties bands, they had a comeback of sorts via The Big Reunion.