Liam Payne leaves Bafta viewers drooling with new lockdown hair during unique hologram performance

POP STAR Liam Payne left BAFTA viewers drooling tonight during his unique opening performance with his new longer hair.

The One Direction singer performed TWICE at the 2021 ceremony when a CGI version of himself joined him on stage at London's Royal Albert Hall.

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The star was seen for the first time in months as a hologram at the EE Baftas, sporting his rather long lockdown locks and bigger frame, as his avatar was beamed onto the stage dressed in a turquoise suit.

The long hair is in stark contrast to how clean cut the pop star looked before lockdown caused hairdressers and barbers to shut.

Liam, 27, delivered a show-stopping rendition of his latest single Midnight during a next-level augmented reality performance that was praised by fans.

The star said after kicking off the show: "Performing live via my own avatar in thousands of peoples’ homes, gardens and parks across the country, blows my mind!"

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Meanwhile, his fans rushed to Twitter, with one writing: "Honestly @LiamPayne was stunning in #BAFTAs"

Another raved: "@LiamPayne omg loved your performance at the BAFTAS! the CGI moment? iconic👁👁🕊 #BAFTAs"

And one more mused: "For once I actually enjoyed a Liam Payne performance. Good to see him being true to himself. Suited & booted, hair grown out, beard, and strong vocal. The wannabe badboy has flipped the script. #smooth#BAFTAs"

The show also featured a performance by Celeste, and Odom Jr and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Liam is not the first star to make use of the lifelike hologram technology, after Kanye West gifted his then wife Kim Kardashian a hologram of her late father Robert on her birthday.

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The hologram encouraged Kim to "keep doing what you're doing," adding: "Know that I am very proud of you and I'm always with you" in a video message on her 40th last October.

Kanye said it was a "surprise from heaven" to Kim, who lost her father to cancer in 2003.

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