After a 15-year career, Cheryl took a step back from the spotlight in 2017 when she welcomed son Bear. So, fans were delighted last year when she returned to the stage for the Girls Aloud reunion tour. The concerts seemed to be the start of Cheryl’s comeback, and insiders told heat she hoped they’d spark the revival of her pop and TV career. However, that changed when Bear’s father, former 1D star Liam Payne, died in October, aged 31, after falling from the third floor of his Buenos Aires hotel room.
Cheryl, 42, stepped away from the limelight once again in order to concentrate on being a mum to their seven-year-old son. And now, a source reveals that Liam’s untimely death, as well as her recent stalking ordeal, has put the singer under so much pressure, she doesn’t want to leave her home.
‘Cheryl has always been a bit of a homebody, but her pals have been worried she’s more of a hermit these days as she rarely leaves the house,’ we’re told. ‘Her recent stalker scare hasn’t helped, but it’s more about being a devoted mum to Bear and figuring out their new normal without Liam. It’s devastating, as she had a lot planned after the Girls Aloud tour, but she doesn’t feel ready for anything right now.’
Cheryl has gone through hell in the past couple of years after being harassed by convicted killer Daniel Bannister. Two weeks ago, he admitted breaching his restraining order by turning up at a house in Buckinghamshire where he believed Cheryl was present. He’s currently in custody, awaiting sentencing in September. Bannister – who was convicted of manslaughter in 2012, after attacking a man at the homeless shelter they both lived in – was originally given the restraining order last year for turning up at Cheryl’s house in both January and July, saying, ‘I’ve come to get Cheryl’ and asking for a glass of wine through the intercom.
He was jailed in December for again targeting the singer at her home, just weeks after Liam’s funeral. The court heard that Cheryl felt ‘violated and terrified’, and wanted to protect her son from any harm. A source previously told us, ‘She wants to maintain the secure life far away from the public eye that she built for Bear. Of course, she’s scared right now, but she’s determined to be mentally strong for her son.’
It was also revealed in May that Bear is set to inherit his dad’s £24m fortune, which Cheryl is likely to place in a trust until he is at least 25.
Our source says, ‘When she’s not looking after Bear, Cheryl likes having her friends round for lunches and dinners and working out at home. She’s got a room that doubles as a dance studio, where she can blast music and let her frustration out. Cheryl has joked to her friends that she knows she’s become boring, but they’re all very supportive.’
Cheryl has been a household name since 2002 – after securing her place in Girls Aloud on Popstars: The Rivals, and enjoying a solo career after the group disbanded in 2009. She took that step back after becoming a mum, but 2023 marked a return to the spotlight, with a starring role in West End hit 2:22: A Ghost Story, before the 2024 Girls Aloud arena tour.
Now, though, Cheryl is keeping a low profile. She was last seen in public in March, when she had dinner with her mum Joan and a friend. It marked the first time she’d been spotted out since Liam’s funeral and her stalking ordeal. Our insider adds, ‘Cheryl knows working would be healthy, but it’s finding the right project. She’s also not sure she has the energy to put herself out there – she can’t handle trolls right now.’