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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

Cheryl supported by ex Liam Payne at ball to honour late Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding

Cheryl was supported by her ex-boyfriend Liam Payne as the grieving stars of Girls Aloud gathered to honour their late bandmate Sarah Harding at the Primrose Ball in London on Saturday evening.

The singer, 39, who shares five-year-old son Bear with Liam, 29, made a rare red carpet appearance for the event held at The Londoner Hotel in memory of Sarah who tragically died of breast cancer aged 39 in September last year.

Cheryl joined bandmates Nadine Coyle, 37, Nicola Roberts , 37, and Kimberley Walsh, 40, to host the charity fundraiser - but the band decided against performing as it "wouldn't feel right" without Sarah.

The songstress looked incredible as she took to the red carpet in a plunging black velvet gown with chiffon skirt.

Cheryl was supported by her ex-boyfriend Liam Payne at the Primrose Ball (Dave Benett/Getty Images for The)
Liam turned up to support the girls (Dave Benett/Getty Images for The)

Styling her brunette hair in a high chiffon bun, Cheryl added a pop of colour to her outfit with a pink clutch.

Liam, meanwhile, opted for a tailored black suit and tie.

It marked a united display for the former couple, who have remained amicable in bringing up their son, since their split in 2018.

The songstress looked incredible as she took to the red carpet (Dave Benett/Getty Images for The)
Liam looked smart in a black suit and tie (Dave Benett/Getty Images for The)


Fellow Girls Aloud stars Nicola, Kimberley and Nadine looked out of this world in their lavish ensembles.

Kimberley rocked a silky burnt orange dress that was cinched at the waist while Nicola brightened up the room in a bright pink form-fitting dress.

Nicola kept it classy in a sleeveless copper sequinned dress. She tied her red locks in a huge bun on top of her head.

Nicola's dress had frills at the bottom (Dave Benett/Getty Images for The)
The girls united for their late pal Sarah (Dave Benett/Getty Images for The)

The charity gala in central London will raise funds for the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Cancer Research UK, as part of the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.

Whilst the event is hosted by Girls Aloud, it will be presented by Fearne Cotton, 41, with Johnny Gould hosting a live auction.

It will feature performances from the likes of Years and Years' Olly Alexander, 32, and the auction will include an original canvas depicting Sarah by artistic duo the Connor Brothers.

The women dress up to the nines for the charity event (Dave Benett/Getty Images for The)

The line-up also includes Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson, 44, and The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, 71, who are among those due to perform at the charity event.

The Primrose Ball has been organised at the request of Sarah and is named after her lyrics in Girls Aloud's chart topper The Promise - in which she sings: "Here I am, walking Primrose".

Sarah Harding passed away in September 2021, aged just 39 (Getty Images)
The girls gathered to raise funds in memory of Sarah (Getty Images)
The girls rose to fame in 2002 on Popstars: The Rivals (Getty Images)

Her former bandmates said in a statement about the upcoming fundraising gala: "We are so grateful to The Londoner for hosting the Primrose Ball at their wonderful hotel."

"Charles Oak, hotel director of The Londoner, and Sarah had a very special bond and holding her gala evening there will make the night even more special," they further stated.

They added: "Our hope is to raise a huge amount of money that will hopefully prevent other people finding themselves in the same terrifying situation Sarah found herself in."

Sarah revealed last August that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which had spread to other parts of her body.

The songstress, who found fame with Girls Aloud on ITV's Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, said publicly revealing her diagnosis was “scary” but was also “the right thing to do”.

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