Liam Payne and ex Cheryl Cole first crossed paths in 2008, but didn’t begin their romance until much later.

In 2008, Payne auditioned to participate X factor for the first time at the age of 14. Cole was one of the judges next to him Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue And Louis Walsh.

“Let’s address the elephant in the room,” Payne said as he revisited his first segment audition Esquire in May 2020. “Obviously my son’s future mother is sitting in that chair. This is now an episode of How I met your motherso that’s enough I guess.”

Although Payne didn’t make the cut the first time, he returned to the show two years later, where Cole remained a judge. He became a member of One Direction, which made boy band history.

Related: Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne’s best quotes about co-parenting their son, Bear

Although Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne’s romance didn’t work out, they were devoted co-parents to their son Bear. The former Girls Aloud artist and Payne started dating in February 2015, almost two years before Cole confirmed her pregnancy. “My close friends and family know that there are very few moments when I am speechless… wow!” (…)

Despite knowing each other during those early years, Cole and Payne’s relationship didn’t become romantic until almost a decade later. The pair were first linked in 2016 after Cole split from his ex-husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.

The following year, Cole and Payne welcomed their first child, son Bear. In July 2018, Payne and Cole called it quits. The duo remained amicable as they co-parented son Bear.

In October 2024, We weekly confirmed that Payne died at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Keep scrolling for a look back at Payne and Cole’s relationship timeline:

2008

In his X factor audition Payne sang ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ Frank Sinatra. As he sang the ballad, he winked at Cole. After completing his performance, Cole gushed about his talent, calling him “really cute.” Payne made it to the next round, but was cut off by Cowell at the Judges’ Houses.

2010

Two years after his first rejection, Payne returned to the show where Cole was still a judge. He also became a member of One Direction Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson And Zayn Malik.

December 2015

Cole and Payne reunited at the X factor final where One Direction performed. The pair shared a hug on stage.

February 2016

A month after Cole filed for divorce from Fernandez-Versini, rumors swirled that she and Payne were dating.

May 2016

The couple made their red carpet debut as an item at the Global Gift Gala in Paris. Cole was honored with the Global Gift Philanthropist Award. Payne went to X to talk about her achievement.

“So proud of her tonight 😘😘such a special award #GlobalGiftGala,” he captioned a selfie of him and Cole with her award.

March 2017

After a year of dating, the couple announced they welcomed their son Bear.

“On Wednesday, March 22nd, Liam and I became parents to an incredibly beautiful, healthy baby boy who weighed 8 pounds and looked like a dream,” Cole wrote via Instagram at the time. “Although he still has no name, he is already stealing hearts. We are all madly in love and overwhelmingly happy with our little arrival. Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers around the world. A day that now forever has a different meaning for me 💙”

Payne shared his own announcement, excited about becoming a father.

“My close friends and family know that there are very few moments when I am speechless… wow! I am beyond excited to welcome our new baby boy into the world,” he wrote. “It’s a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life and my favorite memory I have so far. I am completely in awe of his incredible mother and how she has been through this all the way, she has truly made my dreams come true”

July 2018

Payne said he and Cole called it quits after two years of dating.

“Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It was a difficult decision for us,” he wrote via X. “We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate this together.”

April 2019

Less than a year after their divorce, Cole opened up about how she and Payne approached co-parenting.

“(Liam is) much softer than me. But it is what it is, and I’m fine with it,” she said in an interview with The Telegraph. “When you have a baby, you don’t just have to think about yourself. It is your responsibility to keep things organized and happy so that you make the best of everything. And we did that.”

May 2019

The following month, Payne spoke exclusively Us that although Bear is well behaved, he does have his moments.

“Sometimes he attacks his mother and I say, ‘Bear, stop it,’” he said. ‘He just wouldn’t listen to me today. … He just wants to silence me with his hand. He says, ‘Give me a moment. I’m busy.’”

December 2019

As Payne continued Maya Hendrikhe said he planned to spend the holidays with Cole and his son.

“I’m going to Bear and maybe cook Christmas dinner and just hang out with family,” Payne said on television. ITV show. “I love making Sunday roasts. It brings you back to normality. We’re going to go downstairs, cook some nice food and hang out.”

March 2020

In honor of Mother’s Day in Britain, Payne wrote a moving tribute to Cole.

“A double special day today thanks to 2 very special ladies and a very special little guy,” he wrote via from me right and thank you Cheryl for showing all the love to my son to my son.

July 2023

Payne spoke candidly about how grateful he was to have Cole and Bear by his side while he took a break from the public eye.

“More than anything, I want to thank him and his mother for giving me a little bit of freedom to get better at that moment, because I had to. There’s no point in being a father if you have nothing to learn, and I don’t think I’ve really had much to say to him until now, other than just care for him a lot and love him a lot, which is clearly the case . the most important thing.”