Cheryl reveals having baby Bear with boyfriend Liam Payne has given her ‘the best six months of her life’, ahead of her X Factor return
DURING two horrific marriage splits, a life-threatening battle with malaria and the brutal end of her US TV career, it was easy to wonder if Cheryl would ever find happiness.
But after settling down with One Direction star Liam Payne and giving birth to baby Bear — the child she worried she would never have — the 34-year-old is finally content.
In her first interview since starting a family, the former Girls Aloud star smiles then tells me: “It changes your life completely but in the most amazing way. But I’ve had the best six months of my life. Really.”
Sitting beside her “frenemy” Simon Cowell in a villa near Nice in the south of France as the pair reunite for The X Factor, Cheryl admits a lot has changed in “both of our lives”.
Simon, 58, says: “I said that to Cheryl. I said, ‘Imagine us having this conversation three years ago?’ It was like, ‘Yeah, right’.”
Cheryl has taken a sustained break from the spotlight, becoming virtually reclusive after falling pregnant. It wasn’t an easy experience.
She admits: “I hated being pregnant. A lot of stuff went on and I just didn’t enjoy it.”
But now she’s a mum, she doesn’t have the same sort of fears about being in the public eye again.
Cheryl says: “I didn’t stop for 14 years — literally on the roller coaster.
“And then when I got pregnant I thought, ‘Right, I just don’t need this stress.’ So I relaxed.
“It’s been actually over a year but it’s been perfect for me because it’s reset the mind-frame. And I feel actually better coming back. I feel more relaxed, I just feel I’ve sat into my own skin. I feel so good.”
A big part of that has been the influence of 1D heart-throb Liam, 24, whom she calls a “wonderful man”.
It was Simon who played Cupid, bringing the pair together at the final of The X Factor in 2014 as it became clear Cheryl’s marriage to Frenchman Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini could not be saved.
I ask Simon if he claims credit for the relationship and he boasts proudly: “One hundred per cent – just call me Cupid.”
Cheryl concedes: “He did nudge. And, honestly, I would never, ever have imagined it could be this.”
When I bring up the name of Cheryl’s son Bear, Simon feigns shock and interrupts by saying: “What’s his name? Hang on, what’s his name? What’s Bear short for?”
Cheryl quickly responds: “Unbearable”, before explaining the rationale behind the unique name.
She says: “I always loved the name. And the midwife always used to come in when he was little — he used to, like, grunt — and used to go, ‘There’s the little bear, there’s the little bear.’
“And it stuck. It’s just his name and I wanted a unique name.”
When I spoke to Liam earlier this year, he told me he had left the final decision up to Cheryl.
SECRET REVEALED Cheryl reveals how she snapped back into shape six months after giving birth
She says of his decision: “We carry them for the nine months, we give birth to them and I think it’s only fair — but we did have a discussion, like lengthy. He didn’t have a name for, like, seven weeks.”
But Simon isn’t finished needling Chez yet, asking: “Would you want to go to school and be called Bear?”
Cheryl answers: “Well, would you want to be called Arthur or Simon or one of those common names?”
Simon shouts “Yes, yes, yes!” — and then admits he nearly named Eric, his son by Lauren Silverman, after himself.
He reveals: “Do you know Eric was going to be called Simon? I was going to right until the end then someone said you just can’t do it. I was quite happy.
“In fact, I said to him the other day, ‘Your name was supposed to be Simon. Do you prefer Simon or Eric?’
He went, ‘Simon.’ Maybe I’ll change my mind.”
Cheryl shakes her head and says: “Not another Simon Cowell, we don’t need that.”
Cheryl seemed to snap back into shape just months after giving birth.
But when I compliment her on that, she responds: “Do you think so? It didn’t feel like that for me.
“Like, obviously, my whole body changed naturally.
“But everyone in my family are fortunate like that.
“Like, my mother put on her jeans the week after she had me in the hospital.
“So some people are just genetically like that. But for me, after three months I started working out — one hour a day.”
As for more kids, both are cautiously optimistic.
Simon says: “Well, I didn’t plan any in the first place but I’m glad it happened so, you know, I don’t rule anything out.”
Cheryl adds: “I have no plans for two at the moment but I think maybe one day. It’s so lovely. And I grew up with siblings.”
Simon goes on: “I said to Cheryl on the plane, you don’t realise you can love somebody as much as you love your family, your parents . . .”
Cheryl interrupts: “Or in your instance, as much as you love yourself.”
Simon says: “Exactly. And when it happens it is amazing.”
TV’s most volatile double act instantly connected after reuniting on a private jet flight to Nice.
Simon explains: “I hadn’t seen Cheryl for two years and the funny thing was, I got on the plane and she curtsied. Then we relaxed and it was fine.”
Cheryl adds: “We’re bonded. I just got a phone call that said, ‘Simon would love to have you at judges’ houses.’ I would love to do it. It was really that simple.
“It’s natural, I did it for years so it doesn’t feel different.”
Cheryl isn’t planning on rushing back to full-time work, although she is working on a pop comeback for next year.
She says: “It has been so long — the fans are very patient.
“So I’m thinking about it but I just want more time with Bear at the moment, you know. I’m just loving that, to be honest.
“But I do have plans and I am receiving songs and music and stuff at the moment.”
I suggest it’s a tough decision for any new mum to decide when to go back to work.
Cheryl replies: “I’ve got the luxury of being able to spend more time with my newborn child and I think I’m going to take that for what it is.
“You know, a lot of mothers have to rush back to work and I don’t think it’s really fair so I’m gonna take time, a few more months, until he’s a bit more grown.”
Cheryl has changed her social media biography to read “living in a love bubble”.
She explains: “That’s how I felt when I wrote that at the time — I had a newborn baby, everything was just so beautiful.”
With Nicole Scherzinger looking increasingly likely to depart next year, I have a feeling Cheryl could make a permanent return to The X Factor pane
Simon says: “I’ve missed Cheryl, I have to say. Cheryl has got good taste and you’ve got to have good taste to do this job.”
WATCH Dan interview Simon and Cheryl on video on Lorraine this morning on ITV from 8.30am. X Factor Judges’ Houses kicks off on Saturday at 8.45pm.
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