Cheryl Cole: Her Story - the Unauthorized Biography by Gerard Sanderson Read Free Book Online

in London.
    Cheryl, excited and buzzing with confidence, moved down south once again, this time to join the hundred-plus lucky hopefuls who would be put through their paces during the workshop part of the show. Here, she knew the hard work was about to begin. It was here that the judges would be able to test the wannabes’ vocal skills and dance ability in controlled conditions. So far the gaggle of eager auditionees had proved that they could carry a tune without accompaniment. But could they sing just as well with a pianist? And, more importantly for any all-singing, all-dancing boy- and girlband, did they have rhythm and could they remember dance steps?
    It was around this time that Cheryl decided to call time on her relationship with Richard Sweeney. She knew that these auditions were a once-in-a-lifetime experience and if she were to give this opportunity her all she had to focus on it one hundred per cent. And she knew balancing a singing career with a long-distance romance would prove to be difficult. So, Cheryl decided it was best that they split. According to a friend of Richard’s, her shock decision devastated him, as he’d hoped one day to marry her.
    ‘When Cheryl auditioned for Popstars and finally knew her big break was about to happen, she broke it off with him,’ the same friend told the Mirror years later, on the eve of Cheryl’s marriage to Ashley Cole. ‘He was heartbroken but there was nothing he could do. That was nearly four years ago but he still carries a torch for her and won’t hear a bad word said against her. She hurt him very badly but he doesn’t blame her. He would have loved her to become Mrs Sweeney instead of Mrs Cole.’
    Richard himself has admirably kept his feelings about the split to himself all these years and gallantly turned down manybig offers to do a kiss-and-tell. He broke his silence only once, to shower Cheryl with praise.
    ‘Cheryl is a lovely girl,’ he told the Daily Mirror. ‘She has always wanted to be where she is now. She has been through some rough times and now she is living her dream. I wish her all the best.’
    Back on the show, on the first day of workshops, the judges refreshed their memories by getting the auditionees to sing a cappella once again. Some shone just as brightly as they had before, while others failed to repeat their earlier performances. When all hundred or so youngsters had been seen, the judges called the anxious hopefuls to the stage again, girls on one side, boys on the other. A glum-looking Pete Waterman wasn’t happy.
    ‘We are disappointed in the auditions we’ve seen today,’ he said gravely, causing Cheryl and the others some anxiety. ‘Certainly those who stay past tonight need to up their game five hundred per cent.’
    The judges then began to read out the names and numbers of contestants they wanted to form a third group at the centre of the stage. As the thirty or so names were called, the wannabes looked at each other as they wondered what the roll call of names could mean. Cheryl grew anxious. Her name hadn’t been called and this new group comprised of boys and girls she remembered having performed well during the auditions. Was her dream about to end?
    When the judges finished calling out names, Cheryl’s heart sank. She knew it: she hadn’t been called and it was time for her to go home. What had she done so wrong? She thought she’d delivered a great performance. However, she couldn’t mope forlong, because Pete suddenly announced that the new group that had been formed were actually the ones who would not be returning tomorrow. Cheryl sprang triumphantly into the air. She’d done it, she’d passed the first hurdle; but she knew that she couldn’t relax. As Pete had warned, the remainder of the wannabes had to pull out all the stops if they were to make it through to the final thirty.
    The next day, the remaining hopefuls were put through their paces in the dance studio. Under the watchful gaze of the