Tom Parker understands Zayn Malik’s departure

Tom Parker  »totally understands » why Zayn Malik quit One Direction.

The former Wanted singer found life in the band very  »tough » and can sympathise with his old chart rival, who left the ‘Steal My Girl’ group in March, for making the decision to walk away from his gruelling schedule.

He said:  »I don’t think anyone realises how tough it is being in a manufactured boy band.

 »When Zayn left 1D I totally understood why he couldn’t handle it any more. »

At the height of their fame, the ‘Glad You Came’ hitmakers were pitched as a bad boy alternative to One Direction but Tom insists it was hard trying to live up to their reputation.

He said:  »It was quite a reputation to live up to. We did go out and drink in pubs.

 »But the truth is, none of us was really wild – more a bunch of geeks.

 »I’m fascinated by history, politics, food, that sort of thing, but we had an image to live up to. »

And the 25-year-old singer says life has changed since he left the band.

He told Britain’s HELLO! magazine:  »My life has changed since the split. I stopped smoking, I hardly drink and I’m eating healthily.

 »I love cooking. My mum taught me to cook when I was 14 but for five years I didn’t get to cook at all and most of the time it was takeaways, which isn’t the greatest, long term. »