EXCLUSIVE: Cheryl Tweedy is reportedly set to make a TV comeback on The Voice UK alongside her close pal will.i.am, after keeping a low profile since the tragic death of her former partner Liam Payne
Cheryl is making a fresh start after Liam Payne’s death
After a difficult few years, Cheryl Tweedy looks set to make a fresh start by taking a seat in one of The Voice UK’s iconic red chairs.
The Girls Aloud star is reportedly preparing to stage a sensational TV comeback alongside her close pal, will.i.am, who has been a coach since the show’s first season back in 2012.
And a source tells new that after suffering tragedy in her personal life, a role on the panel of the ITV show will be just the thing to put a smile back on the Fight For This Love singer’s face.
“This is the right time for Cheryl to make a comeback,” said the source. “It’s a fresh start and a new beginning for her. She feels stronger and doesn’t want to hide away any more.”
The star looked stunning as she returned to our screens recently to launch Nivea’s new eye serum as the brand’s ambassador for the second year running.
Cheryl, 43, has kept a low profile since the tragic death of her former partner Liam Payne – who she shared nine-year-old Bear with – in October 2024.
Liam, who was part of One Direction, died aged 31, after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. At the time, Cheryl called the loss “indescribably painful”, but it is thought she is now ready to brave the spotlight again.
“It’s been such a sad and horrific time losing Liam, but Cheryl wants to do this for herself as well as for Bear,” said our source. “She wants to keep busy, because it’s heartbreaking what she’s had to go through.”
Joining The Voice UK is a good fit for Cheryl, given her years of experience as a talent show contestant and a judge.
Cheryl first shot to fame after competing on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 and bagging a place in Girls Aloud, who went on to have a string of top 10 hits including Sound Of The Underground, Something Kinda Oooh and The Promise.
She joined The X Factor panel in 2008 while still in the band, and quickly became a fan favourite. But a highly publicised move to the US version of the show in 2011 ended in disaster, with Cheryl leaving just weeks into filming. She was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger.
Despite falling out with the show’s creator and judge, Simon Cowell, she made a shock return to the UK panel in 2014, remaining on the show for two seasons.
The mum-of-one already has a strong personal link to The Voice UK, having worked with Black Eyed Peas star http://will.i.am on her 2009 album, 3 Words.
The pair have remained friends and in 2018 the rapper and producer heaped praise on the star, saying he’d jump at the chance to work with her again. “I would like to collaborate with Cheryl again eventually – she’s amazing,” he said.
According to our source, having http://will.i.am to help ease her into her new role would help settle any first-day nerves. “She knows the panel and she knows http://will.i.am very well,” they said. “He’s been a great support to her and they’re still very close.”
Cheryl has previously spoken of her love of finding fresh talent, so a stint with The Voice UK will certainly help scratch that itch.
Opening up about how exciting she found judging on The X Factor, Cheryl previously said, “I love the process. I like finding new talent. It’s just as much of a buzz for me.”
Having been judged herself, she said she was in the perfect position to understand things from the contestants’ view. “I understand it from both sides,” she said in 2016. “I’ve learned from the execs how cut-throat it is, as well as being a performer.”
During her time on the show, the chart-topper helped mentor future stars including show winners Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry.
If Cheryl does decide to join The Voice UK, she will certainly inject the show with some much-needed star power following a series of high-profile departures. In July, it was reported that McFly’s Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher are stepping down after the 14th series – currently on screen – has aired, while a question mark is hanging over who might host the 15th series of the show, which is reportedly due to start filming in a matter of days.
While Emma Willis has yet to formally declare she’s stepping down, it is unclear if her duties as Strictly’s new co-host will leave her time to film the show.
As to who might replace her, names in the frame include former The X Factor singer-turned-TV star Stacey Solomon and Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the talent show, our source believes Cheryl’s appointment would be a no-brainer for bosses.
“Cheryl has been offered loads of opportunities in the past, but she’s turned them down,” said our source. “But she’ll be very popular on The Voice UK. She’s excited, she’s ready for it, and this is the right time for her.”
