One Direction performed at the X Factor final in December of 2015 which is reportedly where Cole and Payne met each other once again. At the time, Cheryl was married to her second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini. 2016 - Cheryl splits from second husband amid Liam Payne rumours and couple confirm relationship

Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole first met when he appeared on ‘X Factor’ in 2008 but didn’t begin their relationship until eight years later

The pair initially crossed paths in 2008, when Liam first auditioned for the show but did not get through that year, and reconnected in 2015 after Cheryl's second marriage ended