Nadine CoyleNadine Coyle’s failure to show for the Brit Awards last night has fuelled speculation that Girls Aloud are on the verge of splitting up.

The girl group weren’t scheduled to perform at the ceremony but were nominated in the Best British Group category, their second ever nomination at the prestigious awards.

A source close to the band told the Sun: “Nadine’s wanted to leave for ages and the fact she won’t attend the Brits when they are up for an award shows she wants out.”

Nadine, who spends most of her time at her home in Los Angeles, is said to want to pursue a solo career and acting career in the US.

A second source added: “The other women are offended by her shunning of the ceremony. They all turned up even Cheryl Cole who had a good excuse for staying away. They see it as her snubbing them as well as the awards. She should have been there to support Cheryl is nothing else.”

Cheryl is said to have met up with estranged husband Ashley Cole yesterday before the event in the evening and a band source has hinted Cheryl was faking her smiles on the red carpet: “Just a couple of hours before the Brits they had a showdown and Cheryl was a wreck.”

“All the recovering she has done in the last three weeks was blown away by seeing Ashley again.”

“Cheryl was putting on a brave face and looked incredible. But she kept going out for cigarettes and pep talks with a male pal and mate Nicola. She was clearly still hurting.”