Cheryl: I thought I was going to die

Cheryl Cole thought she was going to die from malaria.

The 27-year-old singer was in “so much pain” from the condition – which she contracted from a mosquito bite during a brief trip to Tanzania with Derek Hough – she convinced herself she was going to pass away.

Cheryl – who was hospitalised for weeks with the disease in July - said: “I thought I was going to die, I actually thought I was going to die. I thought if I’m going to die I want to die soon because I was in so much pain.”

While recording an interview for UK TV show ‘Piers Morgan’s Life Stories’ last night, the pop star also confessed she will “always love” ex-husband Ashley Cole – who she is currently in the process of divorcing – and hoped they would be able to be friends in the future.

Cheryl – who was supported by her Girls Aloud bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts, who were both in the audience - said: “Looking back on it I feel numb. We had a great marriage and a fantastic wedding day and I don’t know where it went wrong. To this day I still question that.

“Once we get over this obstacle, I hope we can be friends again. A part of me will always love Ashley.”

Cheryl – who is also a judge on Simon Cowell’s pop star search show ‘The X Factor’ - also revealed her fame sometimes leaves her feeling trapped and makes her want to return to her family home in Newcastle and slip into comfy clothing.

She said: “Sometimes I feel completely trapped. But I just can’t go back to Newcastle and put on tracksuit bottoms and Ugg boots.”