She’s revealed her plans to have "at least two more" children using a sperm donor – and insiders tell Closer that Cheryl is already looking into fertility treatment and hopes to complete her family within the next four years.
The 36 year old – who has two-year-old son Bear with her ex Liam Payne, 26 – isn’t looking for a new man, but is worried her biological clock is ticking.
She revealed in a candid interview last week, "If time was on my side and I was in my twenties, yeah, I would wait and consider more options, or wait for somebody I felt was right... but there is never a guarantee, because there are so many variables that can happen."
However, her admission sparked a backlash by men’s rights organisation Fathers For Justice, who cruelly dubbed her a "sperm bandit" who is "denying kids a dad".
In another tweet, the group posted, "Apart from the human rights issues, she is setting a dangerous example by encouraging women to create a fatherless generation of kids. There are already 3m fatherless homes."
Yet Cheryl remains undeterred and has told friends she doesn’t want to be an "older mum".
Check out: a look back at Cheryl's dating history from Ashley Cole to Liam Payne
Cheryl relationship timeline - slider with cover pic
1 of 12Swipe through to see Cheryl's relationship history...
2 of 122004-2010: Ashley Cole
Not long into her rise to fame, Cheryl started dating England footballer Ashley Cole, even attending the World Cup with the likes of Victoria Beckham and Coleen Rooney. Clearly smitten, the loved-up pair got married in 2016, penning a six-figure magazine deal at the time.
3 of 122004-2010: Ashley Cole
However, things started to turn sour for the 'golden couple' when Ashley was accused of 'cheating' on Cheryl just months after their wedding. Despite forgiving the footballer, Ashley continued with his ways, with allegations that he'd been unfaithful rocking their romance yet again. Everything got too much for Chez in 2010, when she filed for divorce from Ashley.
4 of 122010-2011: Derek Hough
Cheryl first met professional dancer Derek Hough whilst the pair filmed the music video for her hit track 'Parachute', and it seems they immediately hit it off. The former X Factor judge contracted Malaria in 2010, and she later told Piers Morgan, "I owe my life to Derek... if it wasn't for him I'd be dead."
5 of 122010-2011: Derek Hough
Despite this, it seems the pair were destined to just be friends, with Derek later revealing to the media, "We dated for a while. Absolutely we are still friends, we are still very close."
6 of 122012-2013: Tre Holloway
It seems Cheryl had quite a thing for professional dancers, as her next boyfriend was the super handsome Tre Holloway. Despite first meeting each other on The X Factor in 2010, the pair didn't grow close until 2012, with Cheryl enlisting Tre's dancing skills for her 'Ghetto Baby' music video.
7 of 122012-2013: Tre Holloway
Things seemed to be getting serious between the two, especially when Tre starred in Cheryl's ITV2 documentary. However, the long-distance relationship didn't work out, with the couple calling it quits in 2013. Speaking at the time, Tre said, "She's an amazing person, an amazing woman, and we are good friends."
8 of 122014-2016: Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
It looked like Cheryl had found 'the one' when she met French businessman Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in 2014. Only three months into their romance, Cheryl shocked her fans by announcing she'd married JB, in a secret beach location with her close family and friends.
9 of 122014-2016: Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
After her second marriage, rumours of tension between Cheryl and JB started to arise, with the couple being pictured looking glum on more than one occasion. 18 months after their whirlwind wedding, Cheryl and JB were granted a quickie divorce in October 2018.
10 of 122016-2018: Liam Payne
Shortly after Cheryl divorced JB, she singer shocked the showbiz world in 2016, when she confirmed she was dating One Direction singer Liam Payne. Despite the pair having a 10-year age gap, and originally meeting when Liam was just 14-years-old on The X Factor, Cheryl and Liam instantly hit it off, posting a number of adorable snaps together.
11 of 122016-2018: Liam Payne
After what was the worst kept pregnancy secret of the decade, Cheryl and Liam welcomed a baby boy into the world in March 2017, settling on the name Bear Grey Payne.
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12 of 122016-2018: Liam Payne
Split rumours started to hit the pair in early 2018, but Cheryl and Liam were quick to shut them down, putting on a very loved-up display at the 2018 BRIT Awards. However, just five months later, the couple released a joint statement admitting they've decided to separate. Despite this, the pair remain good friends and co-parent baby Bear.
A source says, "Forty is the age limit she’s set herself to complete her family, so she’s pushing forward with her plans. Cheryl came from a big family and wants the same for her son.
"It’s 2020, so she knows she doesn’t have to wait for a man to achieve her dream of more kids. Plus she has her mum, Joan, who has been massively supportive and said she would help Cheryl with raising her children."
She has also had the blessing of her ex, One Direction star Liam – who is now dating 19-year-old model Maya Henry.
The source adds, "Liam is supportive and understands why – given her age and her desire for a big family – she feels the need to act quickly.
"Cheryl has always wanted to be a mum more than anything, and Bear is growing up so quickly. Liam knows he will have more children one day, so why shouldn’t Cheryl?"
The Fight For This Love singer – who was married to footballer Ashley Cole from 2006-10 and restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini from 2014-16, before her three-year romance with Liam ended in 2018 – also joked she wouldn’t choose a sperm donor from her native north-east, saying, "Do you imagine some guy from Newcastle saying, 'That’s my child'?"
Insiders confirm she is investigating as far afield as LA.
"Cheryl has looked into the California Cryobank, which boasts to be the cream of the crop when it comes to donors," explains the source. "They vet donors extensively on a wide range of subjects... so obviously this is appealing to her."
Women can also opt to have more than one embryo implanted, creating a higher possibility for them to fall pregnant with twins.
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Cheryl opens up about 'regretting' taking Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini's name
In 2012, Cheryl expressed her "obsession" with babies, saying, "I know that is what I was put on earth to do – to be a mother." The source adds, "Cheryl is eager to start the process sooner rather than later – not just because of her age, but also because she doesn’t like the idea of Bear having a big age-gap with his brothers or sisters.
"She has a close bond with her siblings, so IVF insemination is really tempting because it increases the likelihood of twins, which means she could complete her family set-up even earlier – within the next 18 months to two years. Cheryl’s just keen to get on with it now – she wants the perfect family life she’s always dreamed of."
You can read more celebrity news in this week's Closer magazine - out now.