Cheryl Cole's stage fright

Apr 26, 2009, 11:00 GMT

The 25-year-old star was so panicked on the opening night of the tour at Manchester\'s MEN Arena on Friday (24.04.09), Sarah Harding, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts had to sit her down and give her an "emergency pep talk", minutes before they were due on stage. Solarpix / PR Photos

Cheryl Cole is "petrified" of going onstage.

The Girls Aloud singer is reportedly worried she is not as talented as her bandmates, and is scared of being shown up on their new tour.

The 25-year-old star was so panicked on the opening night of the tour at Manchester's MEN Arena on Friday (24.04.09), Sarah Harding, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts had to sit her down and give her an "emergency pep talk", minutes before they were due on stage.

Friends say Cheryl has seemed downcast and depressed since she returned from climbing Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief last month.

A source close to the band told Britain's The Sunday Mirror newspaper: "In rehearsals Cheryl was downbeat and quiet. Everyone was really worried.

"She's got a lot going on in her personal life and I think she's finding it tough being the nation's sweetheart and dealing with all the attention that comes with that."

Cheryl - who was last week voted the world's sexiest woman by FHM magazine - is said to be fighting with her husband, soccer player Ashley Cole, who was arrested for being drunk and disorderly while she was in Africa.

She went onstage without her wedding ring and rushed straight to her hotel after the show.