Cheryl’s a cope winner
Cheryl Tweedy is a master at weathering storms.
This year alone, she split from boyfriend Liam Payne in July, was hit with heavy criticism over her musical comeback and has issued a denial on claims of a feud with Greatest Dancer co-star Oti Mabuse before the series has even started.
The show’s Matthew Morrison is in awe of her coping mechanisms.
“I don’t get why she gets so much backlash,” he says. “It’s awful. I couldn’t imagine being in her shoes and having all that crap people talk.”
Cheryl, he says, handled it all like a pro. “This stuff rolls off her back,” he says. “She doesn’t pay any attention to it, which I think is the right move.
“If I get the same reaction, I’m taking the Cheryl approach.”
Cheryl and Matthew star in Simon Cowell’s new BBC dance competition and bonded on set over their kids.
Cheryl has 18-month-old son, Bear, with Liam while ex-Glee star Matthew and wife Renee have son Revel, one. “It’s really been great to connect as new parents,” says Matthew. “We share commiserating diaper stories.”
Meanwhile, Cheryl says the new show has a “different vibe” to The X Factor, as they are creating a “platform” for contestants rather than handing them a career.
“It felt more competitive with X Factor because at the end someone was winning a record contract and you felt responsible for their career,” she says. “With this, you’re helping them win £50,000 and to perform hopefully on Strictly. It feels different.”
The Greatest Dancer starts on January 5 at 8pm on BBC1.