Cheryl, the former Girls Aloud star, is reportedly planning a behind-the-scenes documentary about her life, marking a major career move after two years out of the spotlight following the death of her ex-boyfriend Liam Payne.
The singer, once the most photographed celebrity in the UK, has kept a low profile since Payne's tragic death in October 2024. Now, sources say she is considering a tell-all show that focuses on her early years and career successes, as well as touching on her love life.
A Story to Tell
A source told The Sun: "Cheryl is incredibly picky about what she chooses to do these days and spends a lot of time on motherhood, but she feels like she has a story to tell." They said there is no streamer for the project yet, but it could ignite a bidding war between Apple, Netflix and Amazon Prime.
PR expert Chad Teixeria commented to The Mirror: "A lot of the time, celebrities wait until the initial wave of attention has passed before speaking because it gives them the chance to take back some control over the narrative instead of constantly reacting to headlines. If Cheryl feels ready, this could simply be the right moment to remind people of everything she's achieved."
Career Highlights and Personal Losses
Cheryl's career began on Popstars: The Rivals, the ITV talent show that birthed Girls Aloud. After achieving fame with the band, she became a successful solo artist and X Factor judge before pausing her music to focus on motherhood when her son Bear was born in 2017. She returned to the stage in 2024 for the Girls Aloud reunion tour, in memory of her late bandmate Sarah Harding.
In a statement released shortly after Payne's death, Cheryl called the loss of the father of her son 'earth shattering' and pleaded with the public to give him "dignity" after his death. Payne died aged 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16, 2024. A toxicology report found alcohol, cocaine and the sedative Klonopin in his system.
Documentary Details and Creative Control
The singer would reportedly have creative control over the project, after her 'regrets' over her 2012 documentary 'Access All Areas', which followed her on her first solo tour. "I have since regretted this decision. The number of times I cringed watching it," she revealed.
PR expert Chad Teixeria noted: "What makes this rumoured documentary particularly interesting is that it's reportedly going to focus on Cheryl's career rather than her private life. On one hand, that's completely understandable because she has always kept her personal life closely guarded yet on the other, so much has happened over the past few years that audiences will inevitably be wondering whether those moments are acknowledged at all."
He added: "If something as significant as Liam's death isn't mentioned in the documentary, then that omission could become almost as talked about as anything that is included. That doesn't mean she owes anyone an explanation, but it does show how difficult it is for public figures to separate their professional story from the personal events that people already associate with them."
Life After Liam
After Payne's death, Bear was named the sole beneficiary of the late pop star's $29m (£21.9m) estate. The filing is said to state that while some of the money can be used now, the majority will be held in a trust until Bear turns 18. Cheryl was reportedly named the administrator of the estate, as Payne died without a will.
Since losing Payne, Cheryl has returned to work with a high-profile Nivea beauty campaign. Rumours of appearances on The Voice and Celebrity Traitors did not materialise.
In April, Cheryl shared rare glimpses of her son Bear during a family trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. She called the trip an opportunity to "escape into my inner child," posting on Instagram that "somewhere in the corners of the world magic still exists."
The trip was joined by Payne's sister Ruth Gibbins, who shared her own photos, calling the journey to Orlando a "bittersweet trip." She wrote: "Orlando [hand shake emoji] Paynes! Bittersweet, healing and at times so heavy hearted walking around and being on my brother's favourite rides in his favourite place without him."
