Shayne Ward hits back after Strictly fans branded him ‘insufferable’ as he insists he’s not ‘cocky’

STRICTLY star Shayne Ward has hit back after viewers branded him “cocky”.

The X Factor winner and actor, 39, got off to a steady start with professional partner Nancy Xiu, scoring 21 for their samba to Stevie Wonder’s Do I Do.

There was no shortage of stage presence from former Coronation Street favourite Shayne gave lots of hip action and facial expression in his sparkly outfit.

But it was all a bit too much for some and there were comments on social media that he appeared “overconfident”.

However, Shayne took to Instagram last night to assure fans that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Written over a glum black and white selfie, Shayne said: “Strictly is amazing and I love being part of it.

“But through my smile on TV I’m as nervous as the next person.

“Not cocky or overconfident… I’m nervous!

“I just gotta work hard and listen to my wonderful teacher Nancy Xiu. All I can do is my best!”

His steamy routine and seventies styling surprisingly left some fans a little cold.

One person wrote on X: “The overconfidence is actually something I’m not enjoying about Shayne right now. No question, he’s good but he’s NOT the master of all things dance.”

Another critic said: “Find someone who loves you as much as Shayne Ward loves himself.”

And another person simply said: “Hes insufferable.”

However, others relished his snake-hipped enthusiasm.

One Shayne fan said: “Week one, smashed it”

Another agreed: “For week one he totally smashed it, he will let negative comments go over his head and he will prove them wrong as the weeks go on.”

Shayne’s wife, actress Sophie Austin, was seen proudly clapping in the audience alongside her dad, Austin.

The Manchester-born star won the second series of X Factor in 2005, competing against Andy Abraham, who finished in second place, and Journey South, who took third.

He then won a recording contract with Simon Cowell’s Syco label and went on to release several successful singles.

Shayne’s biggest hits include That’s My Goal; his debut single reached number one in the UK.

Another popular track is No Promises, which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.

His song Breathless from his second album was also a big hit and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.

Ever the showman, Shayne won a National Television Award in 2006 for Most Popular Talent Show for his win on X Factor.

As well as his music career, Shayne later took on the role of Staycee Jaxx in the ’80s musical Rock of Ages in the West End.

TELLY SUCCESS

After achieving significant success in music, Shayne broadened his career by venturing into acting.

He joined the cast of Corrie as bad boy Aidan Connor in August 2015 – the half-brother of Carla (later revealed in a dramatic storyline), who owned the knicker factory, Underworld, at the time.

His character quickly became known as a ladies’ man, something which came back to haunt him in a complicated love triangle between Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) and Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley).

In a typically dramatic conclusion to the storyline, Aidan felt the wrath of Eva as she went “full bunny boiler” on the discovery of his affair with a devious plot to sabotage their wedding day.

He bagged two gongs for Best Newcomer in 2016 – one at the National Television Awards and the other at Inside Soap awards.

But in 2018 his on-screen persona died by suicide.

Shayne has been in a relationship with Hollyoaks actress Sophie since 2016. The couple got engaged in 2017 but postponed their wedding day during the coronavirus pandemic.

Together, they have two children, Willow born in 2017 and son Reign, who was born in June 2022.