It's coming up to almost two weeks since Cheryl and Liam Payne confirmed their split. But just days before the news was announced, the former Girls Aloud singer's best friend Kimberley Walsh could not help but gush over Cheryl's romance with the One Direction star. In the latest issue of Closer Magazine, Kimberley revealed: "We obviously all go for dinner and stuff, but we don't get many chances to go out just as couples anyway." She added: "It's so hard to get a night off, and Liam's busy working on his music. Liam is such a lovely guy, it's impossible not to like him. He and Justin get on really well, too."
© Photo: Getty ImagesLiam and Cheryl announced their split last week
Liam, 24, and Cheryl, 35, announced they had parted ways last week, posting identical messages on Twitter following a two and a half year relationship. They are proud parents to one-year-old son, Bear. Kimberley's comments come shortly after fellow Girls Aloud bandmate Nicola Roberts was asked to comment on how the former X Factor judge was doing following the surprising news. "She's good, she's good. She's on the mend," the pop star told the Loose Women panel. Elaborating further, Nicola added: "I actually think what's been interesting this week is how the misogyny through the media has been played out. 'Oh why can't she hold a man down' and stuff like that, but why can't a man hold her down? But she's good."
MORE: Nicola Roberts breaks silence on friend Cheryl's shock split from Liam Payne
© Photo: Getty ImagesKimberley Walsh is one of Cheryl's closest friends
Cheryl and Liam's breakup message read: "We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together." A source close to the couple recently told HELLO!: "Liam and Cheryl are living separately and have been for a couple of weeks now. There was genuine love between them, so this is hard. They care a lot for each other and want to be there for their child, so they are focussed on making sure they remain close."
