Liam 'really wants to be a good dad'

Liam Payne is trying to show ex Cheryl he's ready to be a big part of their son Bear's life, a source tells new

- Isobel Pankhurst

Liam Payne and his former girlfriend Cheryl haven’t had the easiest of journeys together. Their short-lived romance saw them welcome a son, Bear, in March 2017, when Liam was just 23, but the pair split the following year, after two and a half years together.

Cheryl, 40, and Liam, 30, have been co-parenting since, but fans have seen next to nothing of Liam with his son over the past seven years. So, when he recently shared an adorable photo of his little boy – a rare glimpse into Liam’s family life – it was greeted with great delight.

The snap, posted on Liam’s Instagram page, showed little Bear in a yellow jacket looking at a billboard advertising his father’s new music. The caption read, “I want to be on a billboard one day, Daddy.”

Now, a source has told new that, following the breakdown of his relationship with Cheryl and a tumultuous few years, including a stint in rehab and mental health struggles, they think Liam seems ready for a fresh start.

“We don’t see a lot of Bear on Liam’s social media but I think he wants to prove to Cheryl that he’s getting his life together,” the source said. “He really wants to be a good dad and with Cheryl now going back on tour with Girls Aloud, she’ll be busier than ever and won’t be at home as much.”