Could Meghan jeopardise Cheryl’s future plans?
● Simon Cowell is reportedly keen to work with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ● The move could leave a question mark hanging over Cheryl’s career
❛ SHE’S UNDERSTANDABLY A LITTLE SENSITIVE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING LET
DOWN BY SIMON ❜
He may be recovering from a broken back after a near-fatal bike accident in August, but that hasn’t stopped multi-millionaire businessman Simon Cowell from planning his next work project.
Reports surfaced last week that Simon – who parted ways with his record label, Syco, earlier this year to focus on TV projects – has set his sights on working with the “world’s most famous couple”, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who last month signed a multimillion-pound Netflix deal. According to reports, Simon is thought to be helping the couple on a ““casual basis” with their foray into TV.
While there are mixed reports about the speed of his recovery, his fellow Britain’s Got Talent judge, Amanda Holden, recently revealed he’ll be back to work next year, saying saying, “His will to get better is extraordinary. He is a fighter, we know that… there’s just no way that he will want to be seen to be failing or to not be getting better as quickly as he possibly can.” And last week, he was all smiles as he celebrated his 61st birthday alongside his six-year-old son, Eric. But as Simon plots his next move, insiders reveal his friend Cheryl has been left disappointed and a little worried. Closer previously reported that he had promised to join forces with her to work on her TV comeback, after her latest on-screen gig, BBC talent show The Greatest Dancer – which Simon produced – was axed earlier this year.
A source says, “Cheryl knows Simon needs to put his health first and sent him her best wishes. She also told him not to think about working on their venture while he recovers, so she was a bit surprised to hear about the potential projects with Harry and Meghan.
OVERSHADOWED
“While it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll drop his plans to collaborate with her, Cheryl knows how business-savvy Simon is and how big a deal it would be for him to work with the Sussexes. She’s worried this could overshadow anything pitched for her and suspects that he could end up throwing himself into things with Meghan, which could threaten her future plans with him. She knows he’s a perfectionist and dedicated to every project he takes on – and that would be no different with
Meghan and Harry.”
BGT boss Simon has known Harry, 35, for years, and is close to Harry’s so-called “father figure” in LA, music producer David Foster – whose wife Katharine McPhee is close pals with Meghan. Simon is said to have been offering advice to the couple, who recently moved to a new £11m estate in Montecito, California, with their one-year-old son Archie – just an hour’s drive from Simon’s Malibu mansion. Last month, Meghan even made a surprise appearance on Simon’s show, America’s Got Talent, in support of finalist Archie Williams.
SIDELINED
It wouldn’t be the first time Simon has appeared to sideline Cheryl for a more globally recognised star. He replaced her with Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger, 42, after axing Cheryl from the US
X Factor in 2011, which he later described as “the worst mistake” of his life.
It’s been a tricky time for Cheryl as, last week, Closer revealed how she’d wanted to leak an old track she’d collaborated on with her ex Liam Payne – with whom she has a three-year-old son, Bear. But following his rumoured engagement to model Maya Henry, 19, he didn’t think it was the right time. And insiders say Cheryl’s feeling a bit raw after Liam and Simon appear to have stepped back.
The source adds, “Cheryl’s in limbo and feels things are at a standstill. She doesn’t know what to do next, personally or professionally, which is making her feel a bit unsettled. It’s not as if she is relying on anyone else to make things happen for her, she just wanted to have some certainty over future plans.
“She’s understandably a little sensitive about the possibility of being let down by Simon, and can’t help but feel upset that he’s moved on from their project to one with Meghan. It’s served as a reminder to not put all her eggs in one basket. While she’d still love to work with Simon and Liam, she’s determined to keep their friendships and think of a new plan.”