We’ll be together for our Bear’s 1st birthday
CHERYL Tweedy admits she has found the past year “a challenge” – as she battles to save her relationship with Liam Payne.
But the Fight For This Love singer, 34, said that being a mother to baby Bear makes everything else seem irrelevant.
And she insisted she is proud of former One Direction star Liam, who has been promoting his solo career.
Speaking at the Brit Awards, where her boyfriend performed, Cheryl said: “I’m great, it’s been a good night and I’m proud of him. He’s so good.”
The former X Factor judge and Liam, 24, welcomed Bear last March.
And Cheryl said motherhood has not all been plain sailing: “It’s challenging, that’s for sure, but when you’re with him it makes none of that relevant.”
Cheryl also had a rewarding moment opening the Cheryl’s Trust centre, which helps vulnerable young people, in Newcastle on Tuesday – a career highlight.
She continued: “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. I first had the idea in 2011, so that’s seven years ago. It only started to realise itself in the last three.
“It’s really important to me. There is an amazing work ethic in charity, behind the scenes. It’s actually insane. I had no idea when I started it.”
As they work on their careers, Cheryl and Liam are also determined to make their relationship work and be together when their son turns one next month.
Today, we can reveal they have been on the rocks since Christmas.
Sources close to the couple admitted their romance had been strained due to Liam’s ongoing work commitments around the world.
Following their public show of unity at the Brits on Wednesday, Cheryl was pictured alone at an after-party.
Liam left as he had an early morning flight to Miami to shoot a music video
and, instead of spending time at the couple’s €6million Surrey home, he stayed in a €75-a-night Heathrow hotel.
Former Girls Aloud star Cheryl was fuming after critics suggested she only hit the red carpet with Liam to create publicity for his new single.
The couple later shared snaps from the night, including ones of Liam and Rita Ora performing their track For You. He is expected to return to the family home after his US trip in time for Bear’s birthday on March 22.
A source said: “This has been a stressful week for Cheryl and Liam as they are under such public scrutiny, but they are both committed to each other.
“Above anything else, they want to make it work so that they are together for Bear’s first birthday. That is the most important thing to them.
“They haven’t actually spoken about breaking up, but they have decided that they need to spend some quality time with each other to make their relationship stronger.
“But they want to get Bear’s first birthday out of the way before they focus on themselves.”
Meanwhile, friends of the couple say Cheryl’s mother Joan – to whom the singer is very close – has backed off to give the pair some space.
The source continued: “Cheryl is very close to her mum, but Joan is giving them the space that they need. She knows that they need time for themselves and doesn’t like to get too involved.
“It is actually Liam’s parents who see more of Bear. They play a big role in his upbringing. Both sides of the family have been hugely supportive and are desperate for Cheryl and Liam to work things out.”
Last year, Liam admitted Cheryl had taken on most of the childcare duties while he was working away on new music in Los Angeles.
He said: “Obviously, she supported me going off and doing my career and stuff, so she’s been amazing.
“What I’ve learned about being a dad is how hard it is to be a mum and she hasn’t had any help from anybody, she’s done it all herself.”
The pop superstars fell in love after Cheryl ended her marriage to French restaurateur Jean-bernard Fernandezversini at the end of 2015.
They had first met five years earlier, when Liam auditioned for The X Factor aged 17, with Cheryl on the judging panel. During their rollercoaster romance Liam got a tribute to Cheryl’s bum tattoo of roses inked on his hand.
Cheryl divorced Jean-bernard in 2016, citing his “unreasonable behaviour”. They had married in 2014, after just three months together.
She was previously married to former England footballer Ashley Cole for four years, before they divorced in 2010 over rumours of him cheating on her.
Cheryl has also had relationships with US dancers Derek Hough and Tre Holloway. While Liam has previously dated dancer Danielle Peazer and X Factor winner Leona Lewis.
Reports last week suggested Liam, who is worth an estimated €55million, was taking legal advice ahead of any potential split from Cheryl.
But a spokesman for Cheryl insisted things have not reached that stage as the pair are committed to one another.
This has been a stressful week, under such scrutiny
SOURCE CLOSE TO PAIR ON THE STRAIN ON THEM