Liam Payne reveals Cheryl picked unconventional baby son’s name as he prefers more ‘traditional names’
CHERYL and LIAM PAYNE divided opinion when they announced they had given their baby boy the unconventional name Bear.
And the former ONE DIRECTION star has now admitted even he needed convincing as he favours “more traditional names”.
In an exclusive chat in the US, Liam spoke in detail about his new life as a father and heaped praise on his girlfriend of a year and a half, even affectionately calling her “the Mrs”.
He said: “I’m into more traditional names, the Mrs . . . she’s more into more unique, original names that people will remember.
“It was her choice. I wasn’t going to fight her about it, she’s the one who’s done all the work, isn’t she?
“We’re always Facetiming and the other day he smiled at me for the first time, it was so special. I just want to spend every moment with him but she (Cheryl) is so great, she does everything on her own, she’s been amazing.”
The besotted new dad also let slip that the tot, who so far has only been seen once in a heartwarming image shared by both parents, looks like a “mini-me” but with his other half’s eyes.
Nappy changes are not the only thing Liam has on his mind at the moment, though, with the star set to premiere his debut solo single Strip That Down on Friday.
He’s been teasing details of the music he’s been hard at work on, claiming it was Cheryl who encouraged him to return to the studio after the birth of their son in March.
And while he has let slip there is a female guest vocalist on his album, there’s no word on whether Chezza took some time during her maternity leave to lay down some vocals on a soppy duet.
One thing she will have to help her man brush up on his dancing.
Liam admits he’s not a good mover and has sought help from one of BEYONCE’s choreographers.
He said: “I can’t dance but I’m learning. I’ve been working with an amazing choreographer. I dance a little bit in the video and maybe I can dance more on tour.”
Cheryl, step in quickly before Liam’s embarrassing dad dancing traumatises baby Bear for years to come.
Sole lot of trouble with Rih and Katy
THEY once had one of the strongest friendships in pop but sources tell us all is not well between KATY PERRY and RIHANNA.
We understand the pair’s relationship began to turn frosty last year and it has resulted in a series of snubs in recent weeks.
First the pair steered clear of one another at last month’s Coachella festival in California with Rihanna, left, turning down an invite to join Katy at her shoewear launch.
And then Katy was basically the only big name to not make an appearance at Rihanna’s Met Gala after-party in New York.
A source said: “It’s not quite clear what’s gone on but it seems like Rihanna is the one that’s mad with Katy and she doesn’t quite understand why.
“Pals think maybe it has something to do with Katy not being there for Rihanna when she was with ORLANDO BLOOM but there was never a big catfight, just a frosty atmosphere.
"Katy invited Rihanna to her party to extend an olive branch but when it was snubbed she wasn’t going to turn up to her after-party.”
With Katy already at war with singer TAYLOR SWIFT, we don’t want another catfight to develop.
Here’s hoping the ladies patch things up pronto.
My Si life's Klass
MYLEENE KLASS had us all guessing for months when she first started dating new man Simon Motson.
That was due to his divorce, not being finalised.
But no sooner had the ink dried on the papers, the loved-up pair, went public and were spotted strolling hand in hand.
Two years on, they have taken their relationship up a notch by moving in together.
Dad-of-two Simon, who split from wife Anna Walton before meeting Myleene, is living with the star and her two daughters at their North London home.
Myleene opened up about the move after Simon, surprised her at the launch of her 21st Mothercare collection in London this week.
She said: “Yep, he’s living with us now. And I’m happy.
“I’ve put on a few pounds now though because he cooks delicious meals all the time.”
We can think of worse problems to have.
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All that glitters
JADE THIRLWALL was the best-dressed star at the British LGBT Awards – not that there was much competition.
The LITTLE MIX star’s cute mini-dress was a rare hit at the London bash celebrating people working to advance gay and transgender rights.
SARAH HARDING, looked like she was wearing wet towels, while KATIE PRICE was mocked by host ALAN CARR for dressing like “Mr Blobby”.
PRINCE WILLIAM, CAITLYN JENNER and TOM DALEY were all among the winners.
But Lib Dem leader TIM FARRON – unsurprisingly not in attendance – received boos when his name was mentioned.
Alan quipped: “Tim Farron thinks homosexuality’s a sin. Clearly, he’s not been doing it right.”
Miley miles apart
MILEY CYRUS might have declared the days of riding wrecking balls naked and wearing nipple tassels in church a thing of the past, but we’re not so sure.
She seems torn between the outrageous Miley, who twerked with ROBIN THICKE, grabbed her crotch and wore see-through outfits, and the “super clear and sharp” do-gooder look.
At an event in the US this weekend she was somewhere between the two, demurely dressed – for Miley – but with tongue out.
She said recently: “I like talking to people that don’t agree with me, but I don’t think I can do that in an aggressive way.
“I don’t think those people are going to listen to me when I’m sitting there in nipple pasties.”
Now Miley’s attempting the normal life, we’re not sure where to get our daily dose of eccentricity.
What’s Westlife’s SHANE FILAN up to these days? He was always a hellraiser . . .
- IN this week’s edition of Celebrities: They’re nothing like us, LEONARDO DICAPRIO’s ex KELLY ROHRBACH has endeared herself to the nation by declaring she ate MORE while shooting flesh flashing scenes for the Baywatch movie. The fat-free supermodel, who looks sensational in the skimpy red swimsuit in the film, said: “I’m a pretty hefty eater. I have to eat a lot to function, so I don’t really diet. “I ended up eating a T-bone steak every night for dinner because we were doing so much muscle work.” Super relatable, right?
Snoop's Rio plan
RIO FERDINAND wants to become a hip-hop talent scout (yes, really) according to his unlikely pal SNOOP DOGG.
The rap icon told us that he is set to team up with the ex-Manchester United footballer and SIMON COWELL (yes, it gets even weirder) to find the UK’s next HONEY G.
Snoop said: “I’ve told Simon I can find him a hip-hop star on the X Factor. The talent is in the UK. This is something my boy Rio is passionate about.
“I am due in the UK later this year – so we got to set up a meeting and make this happen.”
Snoop and Rio became friends in 2010 when the ex-England ace interviewed him for a digital mag. He even had the star pop down with him to a community centre in Ordsall, Manchester, and spoke once of “wilding” at concerts with the superstar.
Rio, Snoop and Simon . . . that’s a reality show panel we would definitely tune in to see.
Sher on thinstagram
SHERIDAN SMITH has embarked on a gruelling workout regime after splitting from on/off boyfriend GREG WOOD for the umpteenth time.
The actress has been documenting her weight-loss journey on Instagram, while simultaneously moaning about her newfound singledom.
Some of the jokes Sheridan shared with fans about her bedroom skills are so explicit they are unprintable.
Some of her more reader-friendly posts said: “I make myself laugh, I should date me”, “I’m hoping to meet my new husband” and “I’m checking to see if I’ve got abs yet.”
We understand her rocky romance with former Hollyoaks badboy Greg burned out once again at the start of this year.
They are thought to have first started dating in January 2015, but their turbulent relationship saw them break-up and make-up several times.
A source said: “Sheridan is losing weight for herself as she’s got a big film role in the pipeline.
“But in the back of her mind, of course, she’d love to start dating again. And her pals are hoping that doesn’t mean dating Greg yet again.”
She’s also been flirting outrageously on Instagram with good pal DAVID WALLIAMS, with friends begging them to get it on for real.
We reckon they’d make a perfect couple.
Rach 'bottles it from show'
RACHEL RILEY’s stint on Sky’s Friday Night Football hasn’t exactly been a roaring success.
A week ago she outraged Spurs fans – who were already fuming over their West Ham defeat – by branding the team “bottlers”.
And this week Rachel was absent from Friday’s show, leaving co-host JEFF STELLING to present alone. Our sources tell us the Countdown star’s days on the Sky sofa could be, err, numbered.
One said: “Her Spurs comment hit a real sour note.”
Last night Sky insisted it had not yet held discussions about the line-up for the next series.
But if we were Rachel we’d avoid having a go at any other teams.
Kate's got a real gem
KATE MOSS and boyfriend NIKOLAI VON BISMARCK are back together after his lengthy rehab stint in the US.
The couple were spotted holidaying in Rio, Brazil, at the luxury Fasano hotel, where rooms cost up to £2,000 per night.
A fellow guest told us: “They looked very loved up and Nikolai looked very healthy.”
Yesterday Kate gave a rare insight into her romance with the Count, saying: “I steal his jewellery; he doesn’t steal mine.”
We are all better people for Kate sharing such personal news.
- MICK JAGGER is usually found socialising with fellow rock gods and ballerinas a fraction of his age, so we were surprised to hear he has a new pal in RORY BREMNER. The comedian and ROLLING STONES star have been seeing a lot of each other recently and were spotted hanging out at a posh Oxfordshire house party earlier this month. A fellow guest said: “You wouldn’t normally expect to see them together, but they had a great time. Rory had everyone in stitches with his impressions.”