He may well be the most important person in Cheryl Cole's life, but young son Bear Payne is perhaps the most rarely seen - at least until recently. 

Grainy Instagram footage captured a tracksuit-clad Cheryl hand-in-hand with Bear - her only child with former boyfriend Liam Payne - as she gazed out at the empty venue. 

As always, the child's face was obscured from view, in keeping with the singer's desire to protect his anonymity - a tradition she has doggedly maintained since his birth.

Regardless, dedicated fans have seen - and indeed heard - enough to recognise the youngster, from his rapid growth spurt to his ever-changing hairstyles and distinctive Geordie accent. 

It all began in 2008, when a fresh-faced, 14-year old Liam queued with thousands of hopefuls for an audition in front of X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and a 24-year old Cheryl. 

A cheeky wink prompted a beaming smile from the judge, but couldn't save him from losing his place on the show. 

However he would soon be back, and, with the backing of One Direction, enjoy the sort of global adoration not seen since Beatlemania. 

The band returned to The X Factor for a live performance in 2015, and just months later Liam and Cheryl confirmed reports that they were dating. 

Cheryl later kept fans guessing for months before confirming her pregnancy in the most public way – at a L'Oreal photoshoot, in which she posed in a close-fitting black dress and cradled her bump.

The singer welcomed her son, and revealed his unconventional name, on March 22, 2017, with fans getting their first glimpse of the child shortly afterwards, cradled in the arms of his father. 

Since then, Bear has been fleeting appearances on his mother's social media feed, with the youngster sporting an on-trend top knot in posts shared by the singer in 2018 and 2019. 

In one, he is seen wearing a pair of Beats headphones, his face turned away from the camera to reveal his tousled brown hair had been loosely styled with a band. 

In 2019, Girls Aloud bandmate Kimberley Walsh revealed her two sons had bonded with Cheryl's boy, then two-years old. 

The Girls Aloud star took to Instagram to share a glimpse of the rarely-seen tot during a magical day out at Lapland UK. 

Kimberly posted a picture of Bobby, Cole and Bear all sat facing watching a festive show together.

Cheryl also took to Instagram to share a snap while soaking up the festivities at Lapland UK, with the singer wearing a vibrant red winter coat as she walked hand-in-hand with her son. 

Cheryl also shared the first video of her son Bear talking as she posted a funny update to her Instagram Stories during the coronavirus pandemic. 

In the clip, the toddler takes after his famous Newcastle born and raised mother as he speaks with a sweet Geordie accent.

Bear hilariously interrupts Cheryl's video as she praises NHS workers with the three-year-old asking for food and to be taken to the park.

Months later, the singer gave fans a little glimpse at her baby boy as she filled her home with lavish decorations and sought out matching elf-inspired outfits for herself and Bear to wear over Christmas. 

In a cute photo shared to her Instagram story in 2019, Cheryl declared: 'Santa, we're ready,' while sharing a snap of the outfits she has prepared for herself and Bear. 

The following year Cheryl shared a sweet and hilarious festive voice recording of her son Bear on Instagram Stories on Tuesday.

Taking a line from festive classic Home Alne, he tells followers: 'Merry Christmas you filthy animals and a happy new year.' 

The singer could be heard giggling at the end of the message.

In 2023 Bear was back on his mother's Instagram grid as she celebrated her milestone 40th birthday with friends and family. 

Cheryl was joined by her mother Joan, EastEnders actor and 2:22 A Ghost story co-star Jake Wood, and her Girls Aloud bandmates; Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle, and Kimberley Walsh. 

Kimberley brought along her husband Justin Scott and their three sons Bobby, Cole and Nate. 

Cheryl uploaded one sweet clip of Bear hugging Joan after the party tried their hand at axe throwing.

In another, Bear was dressed in a suit as he watched the fire with Kimberley's eldest son Bobby ahead of Cheryl's birthday dinner. 

Dad Liam has also shared photos of Bear, among them a photo in which Bear's face is obscured as he stares at a billboard in London's Leicester Square advertising the former One Direction star's single, Teardrops.

He captioned the shot: 'I want to be on a billboard one day daddy'.

Fans immediately rushed to the comments failing to believe just how quickly Bear had grown. 

Proof of the child's growth was also confirmed in a short TikTok video featuring Liam and Bear, who who wears a black hooded top that conceals his features as he walks alongside his father.