One Direction

Boy band phenomenon One Direction performed two sell-out shows in one day at London's O2 Arena as they launched their world tour on 23 February.

The five-strong group belted out hits from both of their albums, including Up All Night and One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks) to more than 20,000 screaming fans on the first date of their 117-date Take Me Home tour.

After the show, band member Niall Horan Tweeted: "I love you guys so much! Luckiest dudes on the planet!"

"We just played two sold out shows at the O2 Arena today! You guys are incredible!"

While fans were ecstatic, the reaction of critics was mixed.

Writing in the Sun, Gordon Smart declared them "1Derful," but Bernadette McNulty in the Sunday Telegraph wrote: "Over two hours, with their unexceptional voices and a stodgy section of ballads, what the lads were in dire need of was some kind of showmanship."

1D will go on to perform 34 more dates across the UK, before taking their show overseas, with 83 shows in America, Australasia, Asia and Europe.

They will be hoping the tour will boost their already considerable commercial success, having sold 14 million singles and 8 million albums worldwide.