Cheryl and Liam Payne split in 2018 after welcoming Bear (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Uni)
faces her first Christmas without , the father of her son Bear, seven. The 31 year old star tragically passed away after a fall from a third-floor balcony at his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16th.
Now, the former X Factor judge is determined to make the festive season as special as possible for Bear, who will experience his first Christmas Day without his cherished dad. , and Cheryl, the Girls Aloud singer, is aiming to fill the gap during what could be a challenging time.
Plans are in place for Bear to receive visits from Liam’s parents Karen and Geoff, as well as his older sisters. According to reports, Cheryl is going above and beyond to ensure the day is memorable, as their shared sorrow is likely to be more acute.
“It has been a really sad time for Bear and Cheryl… This was the time when Liam would skip over to Cheryl’s and despite them not being together, they would give Bear the most special of days,” an insider revealed to the Mail on Sunday. “Wherever Liam was in the world, he’d always make sure to be home to spend Christmas Day with Bear. [Bear] will always have those memories, but now things will be different.”
Liam Payne had a special Christmas tradition with Bear (Image: Instagram)
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Despite splitting in 2018 when Bear was just a toddler, Cheryl has maintained a close relationship with Liam’s family, reports the Mirror.
Cheryl’s mother Joan, who is also very close to her grandson, will join the effort to create a memorable Christmas for him.
A source revealed: “Cheryl has gone to great lengths to ensure Liam isn’t forgotten. She has been careful not to spoil Bear, given he is the son of two wealthy people, but this year is going to be tough and everyone wants to see a smile on Bear’s face. He has had an utterly heartbreaking few months.”
Cheryl is desperate to keep Christmas happy for Bear (Image: Getty Images for Chopard)
Moreover, Cheryl is no stranger to loss, having grieved the death of Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding in 2021, who succumbed to breast cancer at 39. The tragic event left many devastated.
Speaking about her grief’s impact, Cheryl told MailOnline: “A lot of conversations we had before she left really sparked a different perspective for me, and I’ll carry that. She wasn’t ready to leave and I think, ‘well I’m still here’, I’ve got the gift of life to still live, and I’ll do it with her in mind. It does shift a lot of things in your own heart.”
She added: “With the loss and our age we just appreciate and love each other so much more. We always have loved each other, obviously. But it’s just different, there’s a different depth to it all now.”