After a shoddy December, Cheryl is facing yet another blow to her confidence…
The star is getting ready for another backlash
She’s defiantly faced down her critics since receiving a less-thanfavourable response to her return to the music world. But while Cheryl is all smiles ahead of her triumphant return to TV judging next month – when she’ll take her place on the panel of new BBC talent show The Greatest Dancer – we’re told that, behind the scenes, she’s worried about another public backlash. Apparently, she is fully expecting to be called out for her limited dance knowledge – especially compared to her co-judges, Glee and Broadway star Matthew Morrison, and Strictly pro Oti Mabuse. And despite putting on a brave face, we’re told Cheryl is preparing for the worst.
“It’s growing increasingly clear that Cheryl doesn’t really have any dance credentials, apart from the fact that she dances herself,” says a source close to the 35 year old, who’s already filmed the show’s auditions stage. “Yes, she does all her dance moves and helps with the choreography for her videos and performances, but it’s now apparent that her skills are limited. Oti and Matthew are amazing dancers and know so much – Cheryl tries to style it out, but she’s afraid about being pitted against Oti.”
The singer’s comeback hasn’t been the runaway success she’d hoped for, with her single Love Made Me Do It reaching a measly 19 in the charts, and she was axed as the UK face of L’oréal. She has also started flogging branded hoodies and T-shirts on her website, which has attracted more criticism. But while Cheryl’s
publicly shrugged off all the negativity, sources say it has made her feel “paranoid” and that the last thing she wants is to seem “jealous” of Oti, 28. Especially as reports have claimed that bosses are trying to make Oti the big star after Cheryl’s lukewarm return.
“Cheryl’s worried she’s going to be set up to fail again, and thinks that people will be really quick to criticise,” we’re told. “Right now, she’s focusing on how to come
‘Cheryl thinks people will be quick to criticise her’
across better during the upcoming live shows, and to ensure she won’t be shown up by Oti. She wants to show that she’s not jealous of her.”
But while Chezza tries to strengthen her position on the judging panel, insiders tell us there’s an extra source of tension on set: her chequered history with the show’s presenter Alesha Dixon. Things have been awkward between them ever since Alesha’s ex-husband, MC Harvey, claimed in 2010 that he and Cheryl had a fling following her split from Ashley Cole. Despite the former Girls Aloud star filing a lawsuit against him and the claims proving to be false, it’s reportedly left things frosty with Alesha. As Cheryl knows from her previous experience on The X Factor, female judges and presenters are often portrayed as rivals – so she’s now expecting to be pitted against Alesha, too.
It’s no surprise that, as
The Greatest Dancer’s launch date nears, Cheryl’s doing all she can to strengthen her position – and that means making Matthew her ally. We’re told, “She’s been getting really friendly with Matt and teaching him all about English TV and slang. It’s already paying off, because he really has her back – so when she clashes with Oti over something or voices an opinion that may not be quite right, Matthew backs it up. She’s definitely played that card right.”
That’s right, Chezza: keep your friends close, but your co-dance captains closer. ■