Cheryl 'slaps vice-like confidentiality agreement on estranged husband Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini'

Cheryl has made her estranged husband Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini sign a confidentiality agreement.

The 33-year-old Call My Name singer has reportedly had the restaurateur, 35, sign a 'vice-like' deal to stop him speaking out about their time together.

According to The Sun, Cheryl feared her estranged spouse would talk publicly about their private life and share secrets from her time on the X Factor - which she quit earlier this year.

MailOnline has contacted a representative of the star for comment.

The former Girls Aloud singer, who married Jean Bernard in 2014, is said to have been feared that he could be tempted to spill details of both her private and professional life.

Speaking to the newspaper, an inside revealed the French businessman wanted the freedom to tell his side of the story, but had to acquiesce to Cheryl's demands for fear of an expensive legal battle.

'JB just wanted to have the freedom to speak but he knew that he couldn't fight against Cheryl's lawyers,' said an insider. 'They are too powerful and too expensive.'

The source elaborated on the fraught situation, explaining: 'He doesn't have the money for a long drawn out legal battle and Cheryl is adamant she doesn't want him to speak about their relationship and about X Factor.'

And if there was any doubt about the nature of the deal, they added: 'The agreement he has had to sign is vice-like. It is watertight and if he speaks out about their marriage or anything he will be in front of a judge.'

Earlier this year the X-Factor judging panel underwent a major revamp with all but Simon Cowell quitting the show before the start of series 13.