Singer and actor Shayne Ward rocketed to fame by winning the U.K. talent competition The X Factor in 2005. That same year, his debut single, "That's My Goal," went to number one in the U.K. in advance of his first album, 2006's chart-topping Shayne Ward. With a smooth, earnest delivery on adult pop songs that favor romance, he released three more Top 20 albums before becoming even better known for his portrayal of Aidan Connor on famed television drama Coronation Street, where he stayed from 2015 to 2018. Born Shayne Thomas Ward in Manchester in 1984, Ward first performed in blue-collar clubs and bars as a member of the group Destiny before gaining national attention in the televised amateur contest Popstars: The Rivals. Eliminated from the final 30 contestants, he signed with manager Louis Walsh prior to competing on the second season of The X Factor in 2005. Tabbed by bookies as the favorite, Ward proved bet-makers right when he eked out victory over rivals Journey South and Andy Abraham. Ward's debut single, "That's My Goal," followed in December and topped the U.K. singles chart over the Christmas holiday. His version of Bryan Rice's "No Promises" came out in April 2006 and reached number two, setting the stage for his eponymous debut album. Released by Simon Cowell's Syco Music label later the same month, Shayne Ward went to number one in the U.K. and Ireland. His second long-player, 2007's Breathless, reached as high as number two on the U.K. album chart. It offered the number-one single "If That's Ok with You," which Ward performed as a guest on the fourth season of The X Factor. His third full-length, 2010's Obsession, included a duet with the Sugababes' Heidi Range. The album peaked at number 15, while Ward's cover of Nickelback's "Gotta Be Somebody" cracked the Top Ten of the singles chart. In 2011, the singer turned his attention to theater, accepting the role of Stacee Jaxx in the musical Rock of Ages on the West End. He began working on his fourth studio album after his run in the production ended in late 2012, but he returned to the stage in 2014 for an arena tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. In April 2015, Ward independently released Closer. It went to number 17 in the U.K. That August, he began a one-year contract on the television series Coronation Street, playing Aidan Connor. The character was so popular that his stay was extended through 2018. Ward then continued to focus on acting, earning roles including the lead in the 2019 action film Stairs (aka Black Ops) and 2020's The Ascent. In mid-2020, he also released a cover of "Over the Rainbow" as a fundraiser for the NHS that topped streaming charts. ~ Marcy Donelson & Jason Ankeny