IS CHERYL HOUSE-HUNTING WITHOUT LIAM?
IF A WEEK IS A long time in politics, it’s an eternity for the artist formerly known as Cheryl Cole. First came speculation that she was set to marry boyfriend Liam Payne (after she was pictured wearing a diamond ring to a Prince’s Trust gala). Then, days later, a flurry of reports claimed that the couple were ‘preparing to end their relationship’, which was ‘doomed when Cheryl kept dismissing talk of marriage’.
According to one well-placed source, ‘ There was never an engagement, but it is true that Cheryl and Liam have been going through a rocky patch. The pressures of having a young son have been amplified by the amount of time Liam spends away from home, working on his solo career, and Cheryl’s mum Joan has been drafted in to help out with childcare. It’s caused quite a strain on the relationship, and the age gap has become more and more apparent.’
Adding fuel to the rumours is an alleged sighting of Cheryl’s PA, Lily England, visiting Statons in North London – the same estate agent that Cheryl used following her split from first husband Ashley Cole in 2010. ‘Nothing is set in stone, but Cheryl wants to put the wheels in motion so that if she and Liam do call it a day, she has somewhere lined up to move into. She likes the idea of being near to [former Girls Aloud bandmate] Kimberley Walsh, who is also a new mum,’ said the source. However, a second source denied that Cheryl is house-hunting and said that talk of a split has been ‘ blown out of proportion’. Asked whether she finds the speculation frustrating at the launch of the Cheryl’s Trust Centre in Newcastle on Tuesday, the singer replied, ‘It doesn’t bother me at all, as my focus is solely on this. None of that matters.’
Meanwhile, One Direction star Liam, 24, is reported to have sought legal advice to protect his £54m fortune. While he and Cheryl, 34, aren’t married, they share a £5.1m mansion in Surrey, where they live with their 11-month-old son, Bear. ‘ There’s a sense that they’re preparing for the worst, but friends are hoping they can bring it back from the brink,’ added the first source. ‘Right now, their first priority is to try and make things work as a family.’