Baby on the way for Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne

LONDON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Cheryl Cole showed off her growing baby bump alongside boyfriend Liam Payne on Tuesday, confirming rumors that the two are expecting.

Cole, 33, and Payne, 23, started dating earlier this year after first meeting on the set of The X Factor in 2008 -- when Payne was 14.

Neither Cole, of the group Girls Aloud, and Payne, from One Direction, have officially confirmed the pregnancy, though rumors have been swirling since September when Cole's mother was seen buying maternity pillows.

Cole's former bandmate, Kimberly Walsh, let the news slip in a recent interview, praising the mom-to-be.

"[Cheryl's] really happy right now," Walsh said. "And she'll be a brilliant mum. She has loads of nieces and nephews, so she's used to the madness of children."