Inside Liam Payne and Cheryl's relationship - from baby news, heartbreak to split

and Girls Aloud star were once a picture of domestic bliss, especially after the birth of their son, Bear. Yet, swiftly after Bear's arrival, cracks began to show and by 2018, the couple had separated.

This came mere months following Bear's 2017 entry into the world; both stars have since peeled back the layers on where things turned sour.

They first locked eyes in 2008 on The X Factor set, with Cheryl perched at the judge's table and 14 year old Liam vying for stardom. They reconnected in 2015 amid Liam's comeback performance with band - the boyband that would launch him as an international heartthrob.

Dreaming of fatherhood since his teens, 31 year old Liam yearned for a simple life with Cheryl. While he wasn't eager to chase a solo career post-One Direction, at Cheryl's behest now 41, he took the plunge.

Nonetheless, tranquillity soon gave way to turmoil. Liam has even suggested that becoming a parent "ruined" their romance, albeit for "all the right reasons", reports .

In a shocking turn of events, news broke this evening of Liam 's untimely death. While vacationing in Buenos Aires with girlfriend Kate Cassidy, it's reported that he tragically fell from the third floor of his hotel.

Gaining fame as part of the sensational One Direction alongside Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan, Liam's journey to global recognition commenced on The X Factor stage under Simon Cowell's guidance.

Reports suggest that Liam tragically fell from the third floor of a hotel building in Argentina's capital. Emergency services, including police, firefighters and ambulances, were spotted outside the hotel following the incident.

It is reported that police were summoned due to reports of a man behaving aggressively at the hotel, possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

A body was discovered in the hotel's internal patio. The hotel manager reportedly alerted the police.

It is believed that Liam fell approximately 13 or 14 metres, sustaining "very serious injuries incompatible with life".

In a statement, the local ambulance manager told TN: "At 17.04 through the 911 integrated public safety system, we were alerted of a person who was in an internal courtyard of the management of a south house hotel. At 17.11 a SAME team arrived and verified the death of this man and later we found out that he was a singer in a musical group. Unfortunately, he had injuries that were incompatible with life, as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death, there was no possibility of resuscitation."

The musician, who was holidaying in Argentina, had been delighting fans on TikTok and Snapchat with recent updates alongside girlfriend Kate Cassidy. However, rumours have circulated about him and a close friend.

Over the past few months, Liam, 31, has been globetrotting while also hinting at new music for his fans.

Here, we reflect on Liam's relationship with Cheryl.

Despite their split, Cheryl and Liam still shared a strong bond and wish the best for each other. Cheryl was reportedly "really worried" about her ex-partner after he was rushed to hospital, leading to the cancellation of his tour due to a severe kidney infection.

A source close to the former Girls Aloud singer revealed: "Cheryl is really worried about Liam. As soon as she heard he was in hospital, she feared the worst."

"She's really protective of him and is worried no one is actually looking out for him."

The insider suggested that his recent hospitalisation served as a "red flag" for Cheryl, who understands the pressures of touring and making money, according to Heat magazine.

The former couple live near each other to co-parent their son Bear. Liam is said to have enjoyed quality time with Bear and appreciates Cheryl's parenting style.

"She is the best mum in the world. I couldn't ask for someone better," he expressed on Logan Paul's podcast Impulsive. He added: "I get to take my son to school one or two times a week and it's the best thing. The relationship we have now as friends has only grown more."

"We broke up for a reason and now she gives me full autonomy of my life and to do what I do and I know he's [Bear's] taken care of. He is all she cares about and I couldn't ask for more. They live like three minutes from my house. I always glue myself to where he is. My life now is his. My money is his. He's a lovely, lovely boy. We've been blessed."

Following their separation, in an interview with Logan Paul, the One Direction star discussed the end of his two-year relationship with Cheryl, stating: "To be honest with you, it ruined a relationship at that point but for all the right reasons."

He disclosed that the birth of Bear was frightening as Cheryl "haemorrhaged quite badly" post-delivery.

This required Cheryl to rest for most of Bear's first day, leaving a young Liam to look after their newborn son. "It was me and a baby in the room and I had to take care of it. It was fun," he commented.

Liam shared insights into his heated exchanges with Cheryl, often bringing their private conflicts to the public's attention. With a tongue-in-cheek attitude amidst swirling split speculations, he took a jab at Cheryl's accent during an appearance on the Capital Breakfast show.

He remarked: "I'm a West Brom fan, but that's not the problem. Sometimes it is! Well, this is the thing, I mean Cheryl's not really that massively into football but she likes to bring up where they're from when this happens, isn't it, it's like 'oh well I'm from here so I'm gonna do this', erm, that was a great Geordie accent... [laughs]. That is what she sounds like in the morning!"

Engaging in some light-hearted future-gazing, Liam mused about their son's sporting allegiances, jokingly saying: "It's like battle of the grandads at the minute, and he's going to have a tough little choice on his hands at some point because you're going to have to disappoint some grandparents. Or he'll just have to go 'you know what, forget this, I like ice hockey'. Pick a different sport."

Cheryl and Liam dated for two years before announcing their split in July 2018.

He disclosed details about their private life, including the challenges they faced finding time for themselves after the birth of their baby Bear in 2017.