Former X Factor winner Shayne Ward, 39, found love before he shot to fame on the reality show back in 2005. His 10-year relationship sadly came to an end but the former couple remain friends

Strictly contestant Shayne Ward postponed plans to wed his fiancée Sophie Austin so he could compete for the show’s coveted Glitterball trophy.

The 39-year-old star is dancing with professional Nancy Xu in this year’s contest, bagging an impressive 33 points for their Viennese Waltz last week. Sophie, 40, is cheering on her partner of nine years and the couple have two children, son Reign and daughter Willow.

Shayne was so keen to compete in the TV dance contest he put their wedding on hold, with his fiancée’s blessing. “It was actually Sophie who put me forward for the show,” said the former Coronation Street star. “For many years she’s talked about Strictly, she loves, loves the show, so every year the music would come on and she’d whisper: ‘You’d be good at this.'”

Shayne was with actress Faye, 39, for a decade but they stopped short of walking down the aisle (Image: WENN)

However the star has been engaged before to British actress Faye McKeever, 39. Faye first rose to fame in Hollyoaks in 2006 and went on to star in a host of shows including The Responder, Little Boy Blue, A Confession, and Trollied.

The former couple had been together for two years when Shayne shot to fame after winning The X Factor in 2005. Seven years later, the singing sensation popped the question over dinner at the OXO Tower in London on their ninth anniversary.

The couple both took to Twitter to express their delight at their engagement but sadly, before a wedding could take place, a year later it was all over. “Faye’s a great girl and it’s unfortunate that we have split up,” said Shayne in 2014. “It was hard to deal with. I still absolutely love her to bits.”

The star added that having a relationship in the showbiz industry is “hard” due to the amount of ‘pressure’ and that he and Faye “just grew apart”. “We’re still friends,” he added. “We were together for so long and I would be devastated if weren’t.

“I wanted to keep it amicable, and so did she. I’m probably taking a leaf out of Simon [Cowell’s] book – he keeps all his exes with him, doesn’t he?”

Shayne is now with Sophie and they have two children, Reign and Willow (Image: Instagram)

Shayne and Sophie began dating in 2016 and got engaged at Christmas in 2017. “I had told Shayne that if he was ever going to propose I would love my family to be there,” Sophie told OK!. “We were stood in the hallway – I was wearing pyjamas and my hair was tied up with a pair of knickers.

“Once the music [Barbra Streisand’s I’ve Dreamed of You] Shayne came over and asked if he could have a dance with me. I suddenly though oh crap, he is going to ask me in front of everybody. I know it sounds weird as I’m an actor but I don’t like being the centre of attention. But it was the perfect ending to our lovely Christmas.”