Coronation Street star signs for Strictly as they aim to win another hit reality series
X FACTOR winner and former Corrie actor Shayne Ward has signed up for Strictly.
The star, 39, who also took part in ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2013, won the second series of the reality music contest in 2005.
A source said: “Shayne is a previous winner of an audience-voted talent show so will have high hopes of doing it again. He is excited to begin training.
“He has some dancing experience so could be a contender for the glitterball trophy.
“He also has a whopping fan base from his years as a Coronation Street hunk.”
Shayne starred in Corrie as factory boss Aiden Connor from 2015 to 2018, leaving the ITV soap in a heatbreaking hour-long suicide storyline episode.
He is currently appearing in Channel 5 crime drama The Good Ship Murder with ex-Corrie co-star Catherine Tyldesley.
Shayne is set to join celebs including ex-footie ace Paul Merson, 56, and DIY SOS’s Nick Knowles, 61, in Strictly’s line-up.
The first name will officially be announced on ITV’s This Morning tomorrow.
Strictly’s 20th anniversary special will air next month despite ongoing probes into dancers including Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima over conduct towards partners on the show.
The BBC said: “The celebrity contestants for the new series will be announced in due course.”