Zayn Malik pulls out of One Direction tour – after being signed off with stress

“The band wish him well and will continue with their performances in Manila and Jakarta,” a spokesperson for the band said

Zayn Malik said he planned to join the rest of the band once he was feeling better (Getty)

Zayn Malik pulled out of a scheduled Coca-Cola commercial shoot in Hong Kong and flew home from the Asian leg of the One Direction tour after being signed off work with stress.

“Zayn has signed off with stress and is flying back to the UK to recuperate,” a spokesperson for the band told The Independent.

“The band wish him well and will continue with their performances in Manila and Jakarta.”

The 22-year-old singer became the subject of tabloid speculation this week after photographs emerged of him purportedly holding the hand of a partygoer outside a nightclub in Phuket, Thailand. He is currently engaged to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards.

News also emerged on Thursday that Malik and bandmate Louis Tomlinson had been ordered to pay $5,000 (£3,300) in drug bonds each ahead of their stage show in the Philippines.

The two singers will immediately forfeit the bond if they are caught using or promoting illegal drugs during their time in the country.