'I heard about it through the news': Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini breaks his silence on ex-wife Cheryl's pregnancy

• e-mail

Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini has revealed he discovered his ex-wife Cheryl was pregnant through the news.

The French businessman and the former Girls Aloud singer, 33, were married for 18 months, between July 2014 and October 2016.

Speaking about the situation for the first time, Jean Bernard has admitted he found out through the media that his former spouse is having a child with One Direction's Liam Payne, 23.

Scroll down for video

'I heard about it through the news': Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini says he heard his ex-wife Cheryl was pregant with her first child through the media 

He told the London Evening Standard's ES magazine: 'Funnily enough that [the news] was how I heard.'

The restaurant owner had nothing but kind words to say about his ex's happy news and said having children makes the world a 'better place'.

He added: 'It's a great thing to have babies. There are so many sad things these days, if everyone was creating life, the world would be a better place.'

Now he has moved on from Cheryl, Jean Bernard hasn't ruled out getting married again but says he won't go looking for love as he believes fate will bring him together with the right woman. 

Parents-to-be: The entrepreneur broke his silence on the matter amid claims Cheryl, 33, is having a child with Liam Payne, 23

In happier times: The French businessman and the former Girls Aloud singer, 33, were married for 18 months - between July 2014 and October 2016

He said: 'You cannot approach it differently when you fall in love. If you can give me tips for me to structure my heart in order not to fall in love the same way, please explain to me but I don't think it's possible.'

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Cheryl for comment.  

Jean Bernard and Cheryl tied the knot on Macaroni Beach in Mustique on July 7, 2014, after only three months of dating following a meeting at the Cannes Film Festival in the South of France. 

Cheryl already has plenty of practice when it comes to looking after children, gushing that her favourite time of year is Christmas when she's surrounded by her nieces and nephews.

Foodie: JB talked about his latest London venture in the magazine

He scrubs up well: Jean Bernard and Cheryl tied the knot on Macaroni Beach in Mustique on July 7, 2014, after only three months of dating

Talking shop: Jean-Bernard gave his first interview to ES magazine

The mum-to-be also told Notebook Magazine that she can't think of anything else she wants for Christmas this year, as she looks forward to the festive season with Liam and her family. 

Cheryl refused to speak on the news that she is expecting a baby in 2017, but did gush about her love of family.

'It’s my favourite time of year,' she said of Christmas'. 'It’s a nostalgic thing – I’m from a big family and Christmas was so magical when I was a kid. Now I live it vicariously through my nieces and nephews. I love watching the magic in their little eyes.'

'There are always loads of kids around when we’re all together for Christmas, I love watching cartoons and Christmas films with them,' she added.  

While Cheryl and Liam haven't formally announced the singer's pregnancy, the Fight For This Love hitmaker revealed a huge baby bump as she attended the Quintessentially Foundation fair of St James Christmas Carol Concert last month.

Whirlwind romance: Jean and Cheryl tied the knot on Macaroni Beach in Mustique on July 7, 2014, after only three months of dating following a meeting at the Cannes Film Festival

A spokesperson for Cheryl told MailOnline that she will not be commenting on the matter.

The couple first met in 2008 when Liam was a teenage contestant on The X Factor and Cheryl was a judge. 

They went public with their romance in February, just weeks after Cheryl announced her split from husband Jean-Bernard after 18 months of marriage.

But the genetically-blessed twosome are said to have started dating in secret as early as December 2015.

Baby-faced Liam was 14 when he first auditioned for the show but he returned as a solo artist in 2010 only to be partnered with Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, who went on to become global boyband One Direction.

Happy couple: Cheryl, 33, and Liam, 23, are yet to formally announce their pregnancy news (pictured together in Paris, France, earlier this year)

Cheryl first set tongues wagging about her rumoured pregnancy in September when she looked fuller-faced in a L'Oreal promotional video. 

Fans speculated that Liam was using his social media to send a hint about Cheryl's 'pregnancy' when he changed his Twitter bio to say he was 'the happiest man in the world'.

The singer's PR company, Supersonic PR, then added fuel to the fire when they tweeted a snap of Cheryl from the waist up, just days after fans started speculating about the couple's happy news.

The couple are believed to have started trying for a baby as early as June.

'It’s very serious now between Cheryl and Liam and they have been talking among close friends about starting a family,' a source told The Sun at the time. 

Bumping along: The Fight For This Love hitmaker revealed a huge baby bump as she attended the Quintessentially Foundation fair of St James Christmas Carol Concert last month

'Her dream is to become a mum. But she also wants to get her divorce to JB out the way and be able to have a complete fresh start.'

Cheryl and Liam's close friends have heaped praise upon them as a couple, with the One Direction heartthrob's former bandmate Niall Horan hinting there is a 'little bit of a story' behind their romance.

He said: 'There's a little bit of a story behind it but I won't be telling you that.

'She's a great girl, really fun. He's a top man and one of my best friends. She seems happy, he's happy, so I'm happy for them.'

Music mogul Simon Cowell, 56, said the smitten couple are 'like two little chipmunks madly in love' and hinted they were ready to start a family during an interview with the Daily Mirror back in July. 

They go way back: The couple first met in 2008 when Liam was a teenage contestant on The X Factor and Cheryl was a judge (pictured in December 2015)

He said: 'Cheryl would be an amazing mum. I have seen her with my son Eric and other kids over the years and she is incredible.

'She is very good with them. I think she is in a good place in her life right now. I had dinner with her a couple of months ago with Liam and they were great.'

Simon joked to The Sun newspaper: 'I saw them together and we had a really nice dinner. They were on good form. They’re like two little chipmunks madly in love. Literally, they were so cute.' 

Cheryl was previously married to love rat footballer Ashley Cole, 35, for four years, between 2006 and 2010.

The couple parted ways amid multiple allegations of cheating on his part. 

Moving on: Now he has moved on from Cheryl, Jean Bernard hasn't ruled out getting married again but says he won't go looking for love