Since then, she was photographed apparently having a row with husband Ashley during a night out in London last week, which fuelled speculation all was not well.

The frosty encounter was captured following Cheryl's performance of Fight For This Love at the Children In Need gig at the Royal Albert Hall last Thursday.

Cheryl was keen to go out and party afterwards, but England footballer Ashley wanted to go to bed.

The X Factor judge got her way, however, and Ashley ended up accompanying her to the MayFair Hotel for drinks with her bandmate Nicola Roberts and boyfriend Charlie Fennell.

The pair have been seen together only a handful of times since it emerged that he had cheated on the Girls Aloud singer almost two years ago. Cheryl, who released her debut album 3 Words last month, reportedly fought hard to overcome the bitter hurt she felt on learning of his infidelity. A friend claimed recently: 'They still have the occasional moment of fun but they both know, particularly Cheryl, that this isn't going to be forever.

'The pattern of their relationship seems to be that she achieves something and she spends the next three or four days massaging his ego and building him up again. 'Supporting Cheryl doesn't sit well with Ashley's need to be alpha male.'  Cheryl has previously hinted that things are still not right in the Cole household.

Just last week she candidly answered a fan's question about soul mates during a web chat: 'I believe in soul mates, yes, but I believe you also have to work at love.' In a recent magazine interview, she also revealed she only really trusted her mother and her dog.