One Direction performed at the X Factor final in December of 2015 which is reportedly where Cole and Payne met each other once again. At the time, Cheryl was married to her second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini. 2016 - Cheryl splits from second husband amid Liam Payne rumours and couple confirm relationship

Liam Payne, who died on Oct. 16, shared his 7-year-old son, Bear, with his ex, singer Cheryl Cole. The former couple welcomed their child in March 2017, and had dated for two years before they called it quits in July 2018.

Liam Payne and ex Cheryl Cole first crossed paths in 2008 but didn’t start their romance until much later. In 2008, Payne auditioned to be on X Factor for the first time at age 14. Cole was one of the judges alongside Simon Cowell,