Cheryl and Liam Payne stunned fans when it first emerged they were dating in February, with many claiming the ten-year age gap between them meant their relationship was unlikely to last.
However now with pregnancy rumours persisting and the finalisation of Cheryl's divorce from Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, the couple appear happier than ever.
© Photo: InstagramCheryl and Liam went public with their relationship in February
Mutual friend Simon Cowell said the pair were like "two little chipmunks madly in love" when he met them for dinner earlier in the year, while Louis Walsh has said he thinks they "are going to work".
So what is it about Cheryl and Liam that makes their relationship work so well?
They have a lot in common for starters. Having both auditioned for reality singing competitions, Cheryl and Liam will have a shared understanding of what it is like to find fame on TV and be catapulted from being an unknown teenager to topping the charts in a pop group within a matter of months.
The pair first met on The X Factor in 2008
The couple were both young when they started out on their individual pursuits of fame; Cheryl was 19 when she became a member of Girls Aloud after winning Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, while Liam was just 14 when he auditioned on The X Factor for the first time.
Cheryl was in her first year as a judge on the reality TV show at the time, and praised Liam for showing charisma in his performance. "I like you, I think you're cute. You've got charisma," the Crazy Stupid Love singer told Liam at his audition.
Although Liam was unsuccessful in the competition in 2008, when he returned two years later he reached the finals as a member of One Direction, who went on to become one of the biggest boy bands of all time.
© Photo: InstagramThe couple are like "two little chipmunks madly in love" according to Simon Cowell
Cheryl and Liam will have mixed in the same circles ever since, particularly since the former Girls Aloud star signed to the same management company as One Direction in 2015.
Now, with Liam focusing on his solo career, Cheryl will be well placed to share her advice and guidance, having experienced life as a solo artist for several years.
While Cheryl hinted that she was recording new music earlier in the year, the 33-year-old has recently been keeping a low profile amid increasing reports that she and Liam are expecting their first child together. If the rumours are true it will likely be welcome news to Cheryl, who has previously said that she'd "love" to have children.
© Photo: PACheryl is rumoured to be pregnant with their first child
"I know that's what I was put on this earth to do. To be a mother," Cheryl told GQ in August 2014.
For his part, Liam, 23, has also said he would love to be a dad. Speaking to Magic Radio in August 2015, he said: "I wanna have kids when, you know, I have the time, but at the moment life's so busy, and I wouldn't want to commit to something like that when I haven't got the necessary time for it yet. That's my careful planning ahead!"
Family is important to both Cheryl and Liam, who hail from working class backgrounds in Newcastle upon Tyne and Wolverhampton respectively. After achieving huge success with One Direction, Liam treated his family by buying a £400,000 home for his parents Geoff and Karen and older sisters Nicola and Ruth.
© Photo: InstagramLiam admitted he missed Cheryl while he was working away from home
Similarly Cheryl has an incredibly close bond with her mum Joan, and once told the Sunday Times magazine about their bond: "I've come to the conclusion that I don't trust anybody in life except my mother and my dogs."
Hopefully that will have changed since settling down with Liam, who has made no secret of his affection for the Geordie singer; he recently shared a sweet love message to her via Instagram while he was busy working in Los Angeles.
Leaving fans – and Cheryl – in no doubt as to who was on his mind, the 23-year-old posted a photo of a sign that read: "The only lie I ever told is that I liked you when I already knew I loved you."
With rumours of a potential engagement and persisting pregnancy rumours, we can't wait to see where this love story goes!
