Wednesday, 8 September 2010

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Cheryl Cole 'having panic attacks' as faces life alone

Cheryl Cole's finally a free woman but rather than celebrating, she's been in tears

X Factor judge feels vulnerable without boyfriend Derek Hough by her side

Cheryl Cole didn't want a penny of ex Ashley Cole's £14 million fortune - just (bizarrely) his surname and custody of their pooches Coco and Buster.

But just when The X Factor judge should have been celebrating her divorce, Now can reveal that she's been left crying and emotionally exhausted since returning to the UK without dancer Derek Hough.

‘Cheryl's in a real panic,' says an insider.

‘She's been joined at the hip to Derek since shortly after she split from Ashley.

'Now she's worried what she'll do without her "rock".'

Derek's hectic schedule is keeping him in LA as he starts rehearsals for Dancing With The Stars.

‘She's been having panic attacks at the thought of them being apart for so long,' reveals a friend.

‘Derek was there for her when she had malaria and also when she was struggling to come to terms with the divorce.

'They have a real bond.'

While Cheryl's friends and family in the UK are rallying round to keep her spirits upas she returns to The X Factor, insiders say there's one man who isn't pussyfooting around her.

In a series of phone conversations, Simon Cowell, 50, has told Cheryl, 27, to pull herself together.

‘Simon asked her if she's ready to come back,' says our source.

‘She assured him she was, but was petrified about it.

'As nicely as he could, he told her she was being silly and that he wants the old feisty Cheryl back sooner rather than later.

‘Simon can see Derek has been good for her, but he thinks she relies on him as a crutch too much.'

See the full story about Cheryl Cole in Now magazine dated 13 September 2010 - out now!

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