Has Cheryl's success spelled marriage trouble

With her first number one single under her belt, a string of hits and awards via Girls Aloud and a top spot on the X Factor judging panel, you might imagine that Cheryl Cole had plenty to smile about.

But it seems her success might just prove her downfall when it comes to her marriage.Much has been made in recent weeks of possible trouble in the Cole household.

Though husband Ashley was there to witness her first solo live performance on The X Factor, he was not present at the aftershow party and reportedly he refused to attend a celebration that Cheryl had organised when her single, ironically titled Fight For This Love, went to number one. She apparently cancelled the bash in tears.

But where Cheryl resolved to try to fix the marriage when Ashley was caught out with single mum Aimee Walton, and even forgave his arrest for being drunk and disorderly while she was busy climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, he does not seem so willing to reciprocate her support.

It may explain why Cheryl's £160,000 wedding ring was not upon her finger during Saturday night's live X Factor show. Though a source at the show insisted that she had merely forgotten to return it to its rightful place after washing her hands, it was notably absent once again on Sunday night.

A friend of the singer told the Daily Mail: "The truth is the marriage is over, even if neither of them wants to confront it.

They still have the occasional moment of fun but they both know, particularly Cheryl, that this isn't going to be forever.

"The pattern of their relationship seems to be that she achieves something, he goes off in a sulk and she spends the next three or four days massaging his ego and building him up again. He can be petulant, pouty and vain.

"She might look like a superstar but Cheryl isn't a diva. She wants to make her husband happy and her success doesn't seem to do that. When her single comes on the radio at home, she turns it down out of consideration for him.

"Supporting Cheryl doesn't sit well with Ashley's need to be alpha male."

It may have looked like a dream marriage, but with her own achievements currently outshining those of her "pouty" husband's, perhaps it is time for Cheryl Cole to ditch the WAG role in favour of her already glittering career.

What do you think? Should Cheryl stay or should she go?