Down to earth Cheryl Cole bonds with builder during coffee break

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:53 AM on 07th February 2010

She’s been keeping a low profile in recent weeks, but X Factor judge Cheryl Cole has made a surprise appearance at a London coffee shop.

The 26-year-old, dressed casually in a grey sweatshirt, black trousers and heels, thrilled customers at the Starbucks in South Kensington by posing for pictures and stopping to chat with them this weekend.

None was more pleased than builder Claudio Case who was spotted talking to the singer for several minutes during her brief visit to the shop. 

Coffee break: X factor judge Cheryl Cole pays a visit to a Starbucks coffee shop in South Kensington

‘She was really nice,’ he said. ‘I’ve always been a big fan of hers from X Factor and Girls Aloud and I couldn’t believe it when I saw her.

‘Even though she’s this huge star she was so down to earth and seemed really interested in talking to me about how my day was going.

‘She was very charming and so beautiful in real life – just how she looks on television.'

Shaking on it: Builder and fan Claudio Case looks thrilled as he chats happily with the singer

The singer has reportedly been holed up at the £300 a night Baglioni hotel opposite Hyde Park this week while conducting a string of interviews to promote her album 3 Words across Europe.

Her coffee shop stop came as she was voted ideal teacher by school children in a recent poll.

The Girls Aloud star, who left school without taking GCSEs, was the top choice, with former Doctor Who actor David Tennant in second place.