Born:
October 16, 1984
in
Tameside, Greater Manchester
Best Known For:
Winning The X Factor.
Early-life:
Shayne Thomas Ward was born on October 16, 1984 in Tameside, Greater Manchester to Irish Traveller parents who had settled in England. He entered talent show Popstars: The Rivals when he was 18 and reached the final 30 contestants. Before taking part in The X Factor, he performed at pubs, clubs and weddings with a band called Destiny.
Career:
Ward won the second season of The X Factor in 2005, launching his music career. He released his first single, That's My Goal, the same year and released his self-titled debut album in 2006. His follow-up, Breathless, was released in 2007 and this third album, Obsession, came out in 2010. Ward went on to star in West End musical Rock of Ages as Stacee Jaxx and then played the Artilleryman in the final arena tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. In 2015, he released his fourth album, Closer, and began playing Aidan Connor on Coronation Street.
Quote:
"I love a challenge, and I think it's when people least expect you to do something that you often do your best."
Trivia:
He was nominated for Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards in 2016 for his work in Coronation Street.