Latest news with #Cheryl
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kimberley Walsh admits Girls Aloud are 'in a different stage' as she reflects on emotional reunion and reveals how their kids were 'blown away' on tour
Kimberley Walsh has admitted that her Girls Aloud bandmates are now in a 'different stage' of their lives as she reflected on their emotional reunion tour. The iconic girl band was made up of Kimberley, 43, Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts and Sarah Harding, until her tragic death from breast cancer in 2021, aged 39. In May last year, the group returned to the stage for the first time in 11 years to go on a huge UK tour, where their late bandmate was kept as the focus throughout. The show included songs dedicated to Sarah, as well as emotional montages of the late star and a rendition of I'll Stand By You featuring her vocals. In a new interview, Kimberley, 43, admitted it was the band's biggest challenge to ensure Sarah had her moment. She told the Mirror: 'That was a tough moment every night, but we all needed it too, we all needed the minute. As hard as it was, I loved that part of the show.' The tour was also special for another reason - it was the first time Kimberley, Cheryl, and Nadine's children saw their mums, and 'Auntie Nicola,' as popstars. 'I think it was a little bit mind-blowing for them,' Kimberley laughed, explaining that her children - Bobby, nine, Cole, seven, and two-year-old Nate - mostly know her for her presenting work. The singer revealed that the group brought their children along on the tour buses and said it was fun for the kids to enjoy the celebrations together. Nadine's daughter Anaíya is just six months younger than Kimberley's eldest, Bobby, while there is are only a few months between Cole and Bear (Cheryl's son with the late Liam Payne). Kimberley added: 'For us as mums, we're in a very different stage of our lives, so we were able to enjoy it for ourselves but also see it through their eyes.' It comes after the star revealed that during the rehearsals for the reunion, the group had 'let it all out' so that they could be strong enough to get through the live shows. However, she added how important they all knew it was to follow Sarah's wishes and show how she was an integral part of the band. She also admitted that despite it being 'tough' for them, they wanted to be able to honour and remember their friend. Speaking to The Sun, she explained: 'She wanted us to do it. She made it clear when she was here, but equally we felt it isn't Girls Aloud without her. She's such a massive part of it, so we wanted to keep her part of it. We're trying to keep her spirit alive.' She continued: 'There wasn't just one moment of her, we made the whole show have a thread of her throughout. And at times we were like: "Is this actually too sad?" Because for us it felt just gut-wrenching. But then, equally, she deserved that time and for people to remember her.' Kimberley said the end result was 'crazy emotional', but described hearing Sarah's vocals in arenas as 'epic' and confessed celebrating their bandmate alongside the fans had ended up being a 'cathartic' experience for the group. She said: 'It's been cathartic for all of us to have that time and to almost grieve with the fans. They've grown up with us. 'And there's no denying that her energy was really missed on stage. But I think everybody could feel that she was still very much intertwined within the show and the band.'
AsiaOne
5 days ago
- AsiaOne
Singapore travel company responds after criticisms over alleged planning and safety lapses on Madagascar expedition, Lifestyle News
A Singapore-based adventure travel company has responded to criticisms regarding alleged planning and safety issues on a recent expedition to Madagascar, voiced by some participants. In a post on Tuesday (July 16), Beyond Expeditions, founded by husband-and-wife team Scott Tay and Kavita Kaur, shared that it was aware of these concerns and that they are being taken seriously. "We hear you and we're already taking concrete steps to improve pre-trip communication, terrain briefings, and daily pacing on future expeditions," the company said, acknowledging that "while many found the experience powerful", some felt "unprepared or concerned about elements of the journey". [embed] The statement appears to come after several posts and reviews by participants raised concerns about what they view to be a lack of safety protocols and planning on a recent charity expedition to Madagascar. Sports marketing agency owner Cheryl Tay, 38, had detailed this in a review posted on her Instagram Story on June 24. She later highlighted the "operational shortcomings" she'd encountered and the subsequent one-star Google review she gave for Beyond Expeditions in a Reel on July 11, which has garnered more than 251,000 views as of writing. In it, she claimed that each participant paid a premium of almost $10,000 for the charity expedition, which "ended up feeling like a recce hike". The cost included $6,990 for the tour, and over $2,000 for their flights. [embed] She alleged gaps in safety during the trip, such as when she'd gotten lost "a few times" on the trek being in the middle of the group "with no guide", and more seriously, how some participants had "gotten stuck" while canyoning. Speaking to AsiaOne, Cheryl elaborated on one particular cave exploration which she'd alleged the participants were not informed of prior to the trip. It entailed squeezing through tight crevices in wet and dark conditions, and they were not given any safety equipment like helmets. "It was one of the participants in front who realised the dangers. Only then did Scott move forward to take a look at the rest of the cave and realised that it was too technical," said Cheryl, adding that as a result some participants were rejected from the cave exploration. "Eventually, the programme for the rest of that day was cancelled," she claimed. In her posts, she also wrote that the group was wading through a river for four to five hours, including sections of stagnant water, "which is something not to be taken lightly". Among the eight "pain-points" that she listed, Cheryl highlighted inaccurate briefs regarding the climate and terrain, leading many in her group to suffer "blisters and cuts" due to extensive walks while wearing sandals. "We were not told that we would be walking in a river for four hours. Otherwise, I would have brought water shoes for better protection as we got blisters and cuts from wearing improper footwear," she told AsiaOne. Safety the 'highest priority': Beyond Expeditions The trip, which was organised as a charity expedition, took place from June 2 to 12 and involved 16 participants, alongside Scott and Kavita, said Cheryl. Cheryl noted that since her post, over 40 individuals, comprising past participants and former staff, had stepped forward to relate their "bad experiences with Beyond Expeditions on other trips as well as while working with Scott". "What's alarming is that there seems to be a recurring pattern of lapses in safety and communication, and dismissing of valid feedback by the founders," she said. In its statement on Instagram, Beyond Expeditions shared that safety has always been the company's "highest priority", adding that the expedition was supported by a 58-person ground team and there were "licensed local crews, a trained nurse and medical protocols" in place. "Emergency protocols were outlined in our handbook, with satellite phone access and identified hospitals along the route." "Still, we recognise the emotional and physical demands of raw terrain, and we're strengthening our expedition design to better prepare our participants," the company said, adding that it has reached out directly to the concerned individuals and "remain open to conversation". As to why she decided to speak out, Cheryl told AsiaOne that the matter "concerns safety and people's lives and feedback should be taken seriously, with ownership and accountability", she said. She added that Beyond Expeditions' responses to her feedback so far had been "defensive". "I needed to say something as it's my responsibility towards my audience to be honest with them," she shared. 'Roles felt blurred' Actor, host and social media personality J Jaikishan, better known as Kishan, was also on the same trip as Cheryl. He had also spoken out on his experience in an Instagram post on July 11, pointing out "a lack of knowledge of the terrain, risk management and clear communication" on Beyond Expeditions' part. "Truth be told, the roles felt blurred. Participants often stepped up to be leaders in challenging scenarios, and leaders moved like participants," he stated. [embed] "As someone who was fully sponsored and positioned as an ambassador for the trip, I feel a deep sadness and responsibility to share my perspectives," he'd added, while also noting the positives such as the connections forged, the "unforgettable sights" and "deep learnings". Cheryl and some others on social media also brought up the need for stricter regulations when it comes to travel agencies. "Adventure travel inherently carries more risk, so I feel there should be stronger regulations to help safeguard participants and support responsible operators," Cheryl said. Cheryl noted that while Beyond Expeditions' statement on July 15 is "a step forward", it still "falls short of full accountability" in her opinion. "The concerns raised weren't just about discomfort, they involved serious lapses in planning and safety," she told AsiaOne. AsiaOne has reached out to Beyond Expeditions for comment. However, not all experiences offered by Beyond Expeditions have been negative. Former Beyond Expeditions participant and collaborator Shawne Koh told AsiaOne that he didn't have any major negative experiences with the company, with whom he had worked with to provide coverage and content. "Terrain wise, it's a lot less technical compared to Madagascar, so there were no major safety red flags for mine. Timings were fluid, and sometimes we start later than expected. Plans can change, so we mostly just went with the flow," he shared of his two trips to Mongolia in 2019 and 2022 with Beyond Expeditions. The company has garnered 3.9 stars based on 76 reviews on Google, and at least 51 of them are five-star reviews. While there were several others who gave one-star reviews based on their experiences, the company has also received a significant number of positive reviews from former participants who had gone on other expeditions to countries such as Mongolia and Bhutan. [embed] One participant, Lim Li Shan, 32, told The Straits Times that she gave positive reviews on the four trips that she'd gone for with Beyond Expeditions. She felt that the company had "fulfilled their basic responsibilities to the travel group", and itineraries were adequately planned with safety in mind, the report added. But some in the reviews, including Cheryl, also wondered if the trip was worth the premium that they'd paid. Towards the "higher-than-usual" expedition fee, Beyond Expeditions said in their statement that this was due to Madagascar's "remoteness and manual terrain support" which required a large local team. "Flights, safety staff, and the inclusion of media crew to document the cause contributed to higher logistics costs. These were communicated in pre-trip materials," they stated. They also added that moving forward, they would be implementing enhanced measures such as "dual pre-trip briefings" and "increasing day-by-day terrain guidance". "We accept that not every experience was perfect and take this feedback as an opportunity to improve. Our commitment remains: to create a meaningful, safe, and purposeful travel experiences that genuinely benefit local communities." Beyond Expeditions, which started in 2017, has organised more than 1,000 tours specialising in remote destinations such as Mongolia and Central Asia, reported The Straits Times. The Madagascar trip in June was to Madagascar's Makay Massif, described as "a remote and rugged region full of stunning canyons, verdant forests, and unique wildlife". The charity expedition, which was raising funds through their campaign, had collected $12,285 of their $80,000 goal. According to the page's description, the proceeds will go towards building a school in the area for over 75 children. candicecai@
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Straits Times
A father's gift of time
To mark the day each of his children was born, one man turned to The Straits Times, and a family tradition was created. Mr Cheah Kok Keong kept The Straits Times issue of the day his child, Cheryl, was born, gifting it to her on her 21st birthday on June 7. Alongside it was the June 8 copy. The passage of time, and the ways in which it is marked, has long fascinated Mr Cheah Kok Keong. So when each of his three children was born, he quietly began a family tradition: he saved copies of the day's edition of The Straits Times to gift them when they came of age. On June 7, 2025, when his youngest child, Cheryl, turned 21, he presented her with a yellowing but well-preserved copy of the June 7, 2004, edition, carefully sealed in a vacuum bag. Alongside it was the June 8, 2004, edition. 'June 7 was the day Cheryl was born and June 8, the day after, covered what happened on June 7,' says Mr Cheah on why he saved two days' worth of newspapers . The present wasn't exactly a surprise to Cheryl as she had seen her older siblings, Stanley and Clara, receive their birthday newspapers when they turned 21. But the gesture still moved her. 'I'm very happy that my father saved those issues,' she says , adding that she will be keeping them in the airtight bags they came in . Reading a physical paper feels 'more engaging and connected' compared with perusing an online story, she says. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat 'You have to hold the paper as you read it,' she notes. 'Digital news can be distracting with pop-ups, and information can be edited or deleted, losing the sense of permanence and credibility.' She points out how her father's idea mirrors a trend that's gaining popularity on TikTok, where young Japanese visit convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Family Mart to print newspapers from the day they were born. 'They're paying to find out what was happening when they were born, and he thought about it years ago,' she says with a smile. Mr Cheah, 59, a senior manager at the National University of Singapore's Advanced Robotics Centre, views newspapers as 'time capsules'. They connect people to the historical events that coincided with their birth dates and make for unique gifts, he says. 'I like history, especially recent historical moments linked to our experiences. I like to make sure that my children know what happened on the day they were born,' he adds. His passion for commemorating milestones extends beyond his family. In 2014, he contacted KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) to propose an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a Guinness World Record that the hospital had broken in 1966. That year, KKH recorded the world's highest number of deliveries in a single year, with 39,835 babies born. Mr Cheah was among them. His idea: to gather as many people as possible born at KKH. On Oct 16, 2016, that vision came to life when 2,241 people born at KKH – aged seven to 84 – gathered at Bishan Stadium. They broke the Guinness record for the largest reunion of individuals born at the same hospital, surpassing the previous record of 1,221 people set by The Medical City, a network of hospitals and clinics, in the Philippines in 2015. Then in 2017, while organising an appreciation ceremony for national servicemen as part of the NS50 celebration, Mr Cheah discovered that Taman Jurong – where he has lived since 1995 – was where Singapore's first batch of national servicemen had enlisted 50 years earlier. Mr Cheah, who is a grassroots leader in the area, says he brought this to the attention of then Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the MP for Jurong GRC who was overseeing the Taman Jurong ward. Mr Tharman is now Singapore's president. The result? On Aug 6, 2017, some 500 Taman Jurong residents, students, Singapore Armed Forces personnel and pioneer national servicemen gathered at Taman Jurong Greens neighbourhood park to witness the unveiling of a heritage marker. 'It was here, on Aug 17, 1967, that Singapore's pioneer batch of 900 NSmen in the 3rd and 4th Singapore Infantry Regiments were conscripted into the army,' said a Straits Times report of the event. In 2025, upon learning that The Straits Times would be marking its 180th anniversary, Mr Cheah contacted the paper to share how it has become part of his family's legacy. The June 7 and 8, 2004, editions of The Straits Times that Mr Cheah Kok Keong saved. He says newspapers connect people to the historical events that coincided with their birth dates and make for unique gifts. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Cheryl, a student at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, says she occasionally reads the online version of The Straits Times , and likes that the information is reliable . 'It's more official and it won't give fake news or play jokes,' she says. 'Many online news companies do not reach out to the original source to ask for permission to post, or go out of their way to verify information before posting online .' Mr Cheah, meanwhile, is looking forward to another milestone. Carefully stored in vacuum bags are copies of the Nov 27 and 28 , 2023, issues of the paper. They mark the birthday of his grandson Theodore, and will be presented to him when he turns 21 on Nov 27, 2044.
News18
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Singer Cheryl Tweedy 'Heartbroken' Over Liam Payne's Netflix Show, Worries For His Son
Last Updated: Singer Cheryl Tweedy found it heartbreaking when Liam Payne's final TV show, Building The Band, was released on Netflix. Payne died after a fall in Buenos Aires. Cheryl Tweedy found it 'heartbreaking" when Liam Payne's final TV show was released on Netflix. The 31-year-old singer/songwriter filmed Building The Band before his tragic death following a fall from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina last year and Cheryl, 42, the mother of his eight-year-old son Bear, has reportedly found it difficult to deal with the release of the show. A source told the Mirror: 'It is very sad for Cheryl. She's very proud that Liam's final project is now available for the world to see, but obviously it's heartbreaking, too, after Liam's death. It's a poignant reminder to Cheryl – and to his fans – of how much more Liam could have done with his life. But that potential was tragically cut short." Cheryl – who dated Liam from 2016 to 2018 – is said to be worried about how the show will affect Bear. The insider explained, 'He had so much going for him, as well as being a devoted father to Bear. It's another reason why Cheryl wanted to continue with her own TV career – to show Bear that there is life after losing Liam, that you can be strong and that he can pick himself up. He can be anything he wants to be in life." Building The Band host AJ McClean paid a poignant tribute to Liam at the beginning of the first episode. He said, 'When we came together to film Building The Band, we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend, Liam Payne. Liam is a guest judge in later episodes and, through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family." First Published:
Perth Now
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Cheryl's heartbreak over Liam Payne's final show
Cheryl Tweedy found it 'heartbreaking' when Liam Payne's final TV show was released on Netflix. The 31-year-old singer / songwriter filmed Building The Band before his tragic death following a fall from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina last year and Cheryl, 42, the mother of his eight-year-old son Bear, has reportedly found it difficult to deal with the release of the show. A source told the Mirror: 'It is very sad for Cheryl. She's very proud that Liam's final project is now available for the world to see, but obviously it's heartbreaking, too, after Liam's death. It's a poignant reminder to Cheryl – and to his fans – of how much more Liam could have done with his life. But that potential was tragically cut short.' Cheryl – who dated Liam from 2016 to 2018 – is said to be worried about how the show will affect Bear. The insider explained: 'He had so much going for him, as well as being a devoted father to Bear. It's another reason why Cheryl wanted to continue with her own TV career – to show Bear that there is life after losing Liam, that you can be strong and that he can pick himself up. He can be anything he wants to be in life.' Building The Band host AJ McClean paid a poignant tribute to Liam at the beginning of the first episode. He said: 'When we came together to film Building The Band, we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend, Liam Payne. 'Liam is a guest judge in later episodes and, through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.'
