Strictly Come Dancing star Shayne Ward says he doesn’t know where time has gone as he prepares to celebrate two important milestones - his 40th birthday and the 20th anniversary of winning The X Factor.
The singer and actor was just 21 years old when he was crowned winner of the ITV singing competition and bagged himself a lucrative recording contract with Simon Cowell’s record label back in December 2005.
Fast forward to now, he has four albums under his belt, starred on stage in the West End and won acclaim for his role as Aidan Connor in soap Coronation Street. His Channel 5 TV series The Good Ship Murder with Catherine Tyldesley has also been picked up for a second and third season along with a Christmas special.
Ward says he knows he has a lot to be thankful for and it isn’t just career-wise as he’s also engaged to actress Sophie Austin, 40, with whom he shares daughter Willow May, seven, and two-year-old son Reign.
Speaking to the Standard and other media ahead of his Strictly dancefloor debut, Ward is feeling positive about this next chapter.
“I’m turning 40 [in October] and it would be the most amazing present if I could win,” he enthuses.
“It’s 20 years next year [since winning X Factor]. I’m no stranger to a live audience, a judging panel and voting at home, but I think for me, I am engaged to an incredible woman, have two beautiful kids and I want them to see me having fun.
“This is going to be unreal, I’m actually going to be able to take all of this in cos at 21 and X Factor you can’t possibly - it’s a whole new world,” he reflects.
“Where did that time go? And I’m now looking at it with completely different eyes. I feel in a good place and I’m like, ready for this challenge.”
Controversy has surrounded the beloved dance show in recent months with an internal investigation ongoing into multiple allegations of bullying and abusive behaviour by professional dancers towards their celebrity partners.
In response, the BBC has introduced new welfare policies to protect the show’s participants, including the use of chaperones during rehearsals.
The That’s My Goal hit-maker says he wasn’t concerned when agreeing to sign up and called it a “privilege” to be involved in the show’s 20th series.
“It has been nothing but smiles, it’s just a family,” he insisted.
Ward also praised the new measures, saying show bosses had encouraged them to speak up if they needed anything and were there for them “100 percent”.
The only question remaining is will he be embracing the fake tan?
“Oh absolutely, bring it on!” he declares.
