Louis Tomlinson heartbroken after mother Johannah Deakin dies aged 42

One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has been left heartbroken after his mother Johannah Deakin passed away, aged 42.

The midwife is reported to have died on Wednesday (7 December) after a battle with leukaemia. Tomlinson however will go ahead with his debut solo performance at The X Factor final on Saturday (10 December) in tribute to his late mother, The Sun reports.

The performance, which is set to take place live at Wembley Arena, was long-planned. It is understood one of Johannah's dying wishes was for Louis to take the stage.

Her husband Dan Deakin released a statement today reading: "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."

Along with 24-year-old Tomlinson – who is himself a father to son Freddie Reign – she is survived by six other children, Lottie, 18, Felicite, 16, twins Daisy and Phoebe, both 12, and twins Ernest and Doris, both two, who she gave birth to prematurely in 2014. Johannah passed away just one week shy of her 43<sup>rd birthday.

On 8 December, Felicite posted a broken heart emoji on Twitter.

Tomlinson's most recent post on Instagram was a tribute to his mother, captioning the shot: "My mother looking gorgeous before the Brits earlier this year. I love and miss you so much!"

A statement added: "We respectfully request that the family are given time and space to grieve in private."

Tomlinson's mother Johannah split from his father Troy Austin when he was a toddler, and he was known to be especially close to his mother as he was estranged from Austin. His own son was born on 21 January 2016 and he has stated in numerous interviews that he enjoys fatherhood and is looking forward to having more children in the future.