"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - I'm winning anyway'

Shayne Ward and his Strictly dance partner Nancy Xu on making golden memories and ignoring the haters

- MITYA UNDERWOOD

After what’s been a bit of a roller coaster so far on Strictly’s 20th anniversary series, Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu are enjoying some downtime away from the rehearsal room for their exclusive OK! photo shoot. The couple haven’t had the easiest of experiences so far, with former X Factor and Coronation Street star Shayne, 40, receiving a fair bit of flack after stepping into the ballroom for the first time six weeks ago, with some viewers suggesting he was “loving himself”.

And when we sit down to chat with the pair about their time on and off the dance floor, it seems Shayne has been more than a little humbled by the experience.

“It’s a massive learning experience for me because I’ve been the actor, I’ve been the pop star, but this is the first time where I’m getting to be me and I’m finding out different things about myself in this different environment,” he tells us. “I’m just trying to learn what these incredible pros have been doing for 20 or 30 years and of course it’s massively humbling.”

His pro partner Nancy, 33, who joined the series in 2019, came to Shayne’s defence when some less-than-kind comments trickled in about Shayne, accusing him of being “cocky”, and assured viewers that “NOBODY is confident” (capitals included) when they’re being judged and watched by millions.

And today, she’s keen to hammer that point home, saying, “We’re always nervous, trust me. The only moment you don’t feel nervous is in the rehearsal room and that’s because it’s the only place you can make a mistake.”

Shayne, who is engaged to and shares two children with actress Sophie Austin, is also refusing to let his experience be tainted by the sharp end of social media, but admits it’s not always easy. “I think when it comes to social media and negative comments, I’m only human, and it can get to me. It can also upset my mum and Sophie when it’s a personal attack.