October 26th 2024.
Shayne Ward is a name that brings back memories for many of us who were glued to our screens during his time on The X Factor in 2005. He captured the hearts of millions with his charming looks and impressive falsetto, which was all the rage at the time. Just think of other male popstars like Daniel Bedingfield and Justin Timberlake for reference.
But let's not forget, it takes more than just looks and vocal talent to win the biggest public vote of the 00s. The public has to truly love and connect with you as a person. And that's exactly what Shayne had going for him. Despite his model-like appearance and pop-star voice, he remained humble and down-to-earth, just like the lad from Manchester you could bump into at any town center, folding clothes or serving pints.
Some may argue that there's a fine line between confidence and cockiness, and 20 years later, as Shayne appears on The X Factor's rival show, Strictly Come Dancing, viewers seem to think that line has been crossed. But has it really?
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Shayne's dancing skills on Strictly. For someone who was known for his ballads as a popstar, he's proven to be quite a decent dancer, excelling in all styles of the ballroom. His performance of the American Smooth last weekend was effortless, and his chemistry with his partner Nancy Xu was stronger than ever.
But even with all that, Shayne found himself in the bottom two with Nick Knowles, much to everyone's shock. It's almost as if the public have hung up on him. And now, as Halloween week approaches, bookies are predicting that he may end up in the bottom two again.
But why are Strictly viewers not connecting with Shayne? Some say it's because he comes off as arrogant, especially after he declared at the beginning of the show that he was "in it to win it". The competitive nature of the show has been under scrutiny lately, with controversies surrounding the teaching style of some professional dancers. But can't Strictly be both a fun show and a dance contest that can boost someone's career?
Of course, Shayne is in it to win it. And why shouldn't he be? He's not the only one. Every contestant on the show is pushing themselves to their limits, hoping to make it to the next week and ultimately win the Glitterball trophy. So why is he being singled out as being overly confident?
After his American Smooth performance, judge Shirley Ballas had some wise words for Shayne, encouraging him to search for his authentic self and not put on a show for anyone else. She's right, the public wants to see the real Shayne, not a fake version of him. But does that make him cocky?
In my opinion, Shayne seems nervous and overwhelmed, perhaps due to the backlash he received for one of his early comments on the show. He's been in a similar situation before, with the intense pressure of The X Factor, and it's understandable that he may be feeling intimidated. Even fellow X Factor alumni, JB Gill of JLS fame, found himself in the bottom two despite being one of the best dancers of the series. It's not because they're arrogant, but because they've been in this position before and it's not easy.
Will Shayne win Strictly? Probably not, and he shouldn't. He's up against some incredible dancers and personalities, but he shouldn't be bombarded with false accusations of being too competitive. He's just as likeable and genuine now as he was when he won The X Factor 20 years ago, and I hope he stays on the show for many more weeks to come.
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