Cheryl Tweedy made her first public appearance since the funeral of her former partner Liam Payne on Wednesday night, stepping out in support of her Girls Aloud bandmate Nicola Roberts.
The 42-year-old Fight For This Love singer was among the guests at the gala night of Hadestown at London’s Lyric Theatre, where Roberts has joined the cast.
Cheryl cut an elegant figure in a brown tailored suit layered with a roll-neck and floor-length coat in the same autumnal hue as she arrived at the venue. The star was pictured making her way inside before posing for photographers on the carpet.
It marked her first major outing since she was seen at Payne’s funeral last year. Payne, father of Cheryl’s seven-year-old son Bear, died in October after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
In November she took part in a pre-recorded Girls Aloud interview for ITV, and earlier this summer she was announced as the new face of skincare brand Nivea, signalling a gradual return to public life.
Her appearance comes just a week after her stalker Daniel Bannister was jailed for breaching a restraining order. Bannister, 50, who has already served time for harassing the star, was sentenced to 12 months at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting the breach.
In a victim statement, Cheryl said she felt “on edge every time I open my gate.” Friends told The Mirror she has been “in a really bad place” but is focusing on son Bear ahead of the first anniversary of Payne’s death.
“Of course she’s relieved he’s been jailed, but she also knows he started up again after the last time he was sent to prison, so it’s hard to move on,” a source said. “She’s a fiercely strong woman and Bear is her world, so he’s her only focus right now.”
Despite the difficult circumstances, Cheryl appeared in good spirits as she joined Roberts to celebrate her latest stage role. Girls Aloud are preparing to mark the 20th anniversary of their debut album with a UK arena tour next year in tribute to late bandmate Sarah Harding, who died in 2021.
Also in attendance at the gala were fellow Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh, presenter Laura Whitmore, and TV personalities Anneka Rice, Louisa Lytton, Angela Griffin and Denise Van Outen.
