Choreographer Brian Friedman confirms Cheryl and Liam Payne are 'having a baby'

While Cheryl remained tight-lipped about her rumoured pregnancy, despite showing the first signs of a baby bump, it seems X Factor choreographer Brian Friedman may have let the cat out of the bag.

Talking to new! magazine, he confirmed the news that the 33-year-old is expecting her first child with boyfriend Liam Payne, 23.

"Everyone wants to be in love, everyone wants to be happy," he said. "And now they're having a baby together, so they definitely found something great."

The pair first met in 2008 when Liam was just 14 years old and auditioned for the first time on the show. After failing to get through to the live shows, he returned two years later and One Direction was born.

In an interview conducted during his time on The X Factor, the One Direction star admitted he had 'trouble concentrating' around her. However, at the time, Cheryl was married to footballer Ashley Cole and after their divorce, she embarked on a whirlwind romance with French entrepreneur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in 2014. They announced their separation earlier this year amidst a Twitter spat.

In February 2016, Cheryl and Liam, who were reportedly set up by Simon Cowell, went public with their romance.

While Payne went on to become part of the One Direction - the biggest British boy band in the world, Cheryl became a household name with Girls Aloud, who was also formed on talent show, Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.

Friedman added that despite their age gap, the unlikely couple has much in common both having first found fame through reality TV talent shows, and then finding each other.

"It's funny to think back how long ago it was that they first met. There's something ironic in that they both came up into the industry in the same way, so they have an immediate connection," he said Mail Online reports.

While the couple have not made an official statement about the forthcoming addition to their family, Liam sparked a Twitter frenzy after changing his bio on the social media site to read 'the happiest man in the world', fueling speculation among fans that the couple are expecting their first child together.

Meanwhile, a recent photograph of Cheryl in the new L'Oreal campaign also shows the Crazy, Stupid, Love singer looking happy and healthy, prompting fans to suggest that her fuller face is down to being pregnant.

On 9 October she seemed to be showing off a growing baby bump when she appeared at the L'Oreal Paris real Paris Gold Obsession party during Paris Fashion Week in a black lace ensemble.

In a later appearance on The One Show the Crazy, Stupid Love singer had her baby bump under wraps, but after her mother Joan Callaghan was spotted buying a pregnancy pillow, fans are eagerly anticipating a new arrival.