British singer Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne are preparing to end their relationship which has been on the rocks for some weeks. The former One Direction star, 24, and Cheryl, 34, have held crisis talks but are ready to split, pals fear. The success of the former One Direction singer’s solo career has meant Cheryl, is left with their 11-month-old son Bear for weeks at a time.
The unmarried couple have been battling to stay together – staging crisis talks this week about their future after Liam returned to Britain from touring. But friends fear they may be unable to salvage it long-term and are ready to call time on their troubled relationship. Sources claimed they would probably already have done so if it was not for their young son. Cheryl’s ten-year age gap over Liam, 24, has also believed to have made things increasingly difficult for the pair.
Last night a source close to the couple revealed: “There’s a big age gap between them. If they didn’t have Bear then they would have most likely split up by now. But they love their son. And they do care for each other so it’s now a matter of seeing if there’s a final way forward to try and make it work.” Last year, Liam, admitted Cheryl had taken on most of the childcare duties while he was working away on new music in LA.
He said: “Obviously, she supported me going off and doing my career and stuff, so she’s been amazing. What I’ve learnt about being a dad is how hard it is to be a mum and she hasn’t had any help from anybody and she’s done it all herself.” Sources insist the couple, who have been together for two years, have had no major rows – and neither has had an affair. They say the pair are determined to stay close for the sake of Bear, even celebrating Valentine’s Day together at their Surrey mansion. Our source added: “Liam and Cheryl held crisis talks about their future this week after he made a point of spending Valentine’s Day with her. They haven’t split but have addressed the fact they have work to do on the relationship and both want to work things out. He is away a lot. She knew he would be away a lot for work but the actual reality is tough. She also wants to get back to work so that comes into it as well. They have a child together so have been trying to make it work for some time. There hasn’t been a big falling out or anything like that. They hope there is a way forward and that’s what they’ve been discussing.”
Cheryl will go back to work this week. She is set to open her Cheryl’s Trust Centre – which helps vulnerable young people – in Newcastle on Tuesday. The couple may make an appearance at the Brit Awards on Wednesday, where Liam is nominated, as a public show of unity. Liam, the most successful solo member of 1D, has been touring the world promoting his single for the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack. But the couple reunited this week, making a special effort to spend some time at home – as well as discussing things with their own families. Our source added: “They are obviously having problems but the question now is what they decide to do about it.
Photo Credit: Getty
