BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Shayne Ward and his famous ex-fiancée

BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s Shayne Ward and his famous ex-fiancée

Shayne Ward, the former X Factor winner and current ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contestant, was previously engaged to actress Faye McKeever for nearly a decade. Despite their split, the pair remain friends and share fond memories of their time together.

By Jennifer Philip Published on October 12, 2024, 09:14 EDT Last updated October 12, 2024, 09:15

Image Credits - BBC

Before rising to fame as the winner of The X Factor in 2005, Shayne Ward, 39, found love with British actress Faye McKeever, 39. Their relationship spanned a decade, beginning before Shayne’s success on the reality show. They became engaged after Shayne proposed during their ninth-anniversary dinner at the OXO Tower in London. However, their engagement was short-lived, as they ultimately split a year later.

Faye McKeever, who gained recognition for her role in Hollyoaks in 2006, has since appeared in several television dramas, including The Responder, Little Boy Blue, A Confession, and Trollied. Following their breakup, Shayne expressed his fondness for Faye, stating, “It was hard to deal with. I still absolutely love her to bits.” He acknowledged the difficulties of maintaining a relationship within the entertainment industry, citing the pressure that often leads couples to drift apart.

Shayne Ward’s current relationship

Currently, Shayne is in a loving relationship with his fiancée Sophie Austin, 40, with whom he shares two children: son Reign and daughter Willow. In a twist of fate, Sophie encouraged Shayne to join the cast of Strictly Come Dancing, even putting their wedding plans on hold to support his dream of competing for the coveted Glitterball trophy. The couple has been together for nine years, and Sophie has been a constant source of encouragement as Shayne takes the dance floor with professional partner Nancy Xu.

As he continues his journey on Strictly, Shayne remains grateful for the support of both his past and present relationships, navigating the challenges of love in the spotlight with grace.