Oh boy, Cheryl!
Star gives birth after months of mystery over her pregnancy
SHE is one of Britain’s biggest stars but managed to keep her pregnancy hidden for an astonishing eight months. And now it appears Cheryl has gone one better – keeping the birth of her first child a secret, too.
Last night the former X Factor judge revealed she was now the mother of a baby boy. He was born on Wednesday in a private ward at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, with her partner, One Direction singer Liam Payne, at her side.
The 33-year-old kept fans guessing for months before confirming her pregnancy in the most public way – at a L’Oreal photoshoot, in which she posed, cradling her bump.
Friends said at the time that she had kept the pregnancy a secret because she didn’t want to ‘jinx her happiness’ after years of bad luck in relationships.
Cheryl first spoke of her desire to be a mother back in 2012, telling GQ magazine: ‘I love kids, I’m obsessed with babies. I know that’s what I was put on the Earth to do – to be a mother.’
And she revealed that she already had a favourite boy’s name lined up: Alfie.
Speculation that the singer had already given birth grew last week after her fans pointed to strange activity on her Instagram account. The former Girls Aloud singer ‘liked’ several friends’ baby bump photos, and asked for tips on childcare from her chum Kourtney Kardashian.
Liam, 23, also shared a cryptic tweet that read: ‘Creep around and stay quiet in the morning’ – taken by fans as a sign there was a baby at home.
Cheryl said: ‘On Wednesday we became parents to an incredibly beautiful baby boy weighing 7lb 9oz and looking like a dream. Although he doesn’t have a name he is already stealing hearts.
‘We are all madly in love and overwhelmingly happy.’