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STRICTLY Come Dancing star Shayne Ward put his wedding on hold for a second time to fulfill his dancing dreams.

The former Corrie star and his partner Sophie Austin were due to tie the knot later this year.

Shayne Ward has been partnered with Nancy Xu on the hit BBC show
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Shayne Ward has been partnered with Nancy Xu on the hit BBC showCredit: PA
Shayne and Sophie were due to get married later this year
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Shayne and Sophie were due to get married later this yearCredit: The Mega Agency

This isn't the first time the couple pushed back their big day after they had to cancel their ceremony due to Covid-19.

But it was Hollyoaks actress Sophie who encouraged him to sign up to the show.

"It'll be happening. Sophie and I were actually looking at the end of this year, but we couldn't because this incredible show happened," he told

 "It was actually Sophie who put me forward for the show. For many years she's talked about Strictly, she loves, loves the show, so every year the music would come on and she'd whisper: 'You'd be good at this'."

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"She always had that belief in me, she'd say: 'I just think you'd really enjoy it, and I want people to see you'. This year she said to me: 'Can I please put your name forward?' and I said: 'Yeah' because it felt like the right time."

Shayne said joining Strictly was one of the "best things he's ever done".

His daughter is following in his footsteps and is also rehearsing for a dance competition.

Sophie and Shayne got engaged in 2017 and have a young three-year-old daughter called Willow together.

Shayne opened up about delaying their first marriage during an appearance on Lorraine.

"Everything can wait, there is no rush and we can definitely do this next year, but we're together for life and that is the main thing, we're together regardless," he said.

Shayne has recently been hit with backlash from trolls who branded him "insufferable".

Shayne, 39, and his Strictly partner Nancy Xu made their dance debut on Saturday night with a Samba to Stevie Wonder's Do I Do.

They scored 23 from judges Shirley BallasCraig Revel HorwoodMotsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

Shayne Ward as he reveals gruelling Strictly rehearsals have left him unable to wear SHOES

But some viewers took to social media to hit out at Shayne following the performance.

He later posted a lengthy statement slamming the claims and now he's hit back again.

Shayne reposted a photo and message on Instagram from a fan that read: "This is the Shayne Ward I've known and loved for almost 20 years.

"Who has been nothing but kind, funny and very caring towards everyone he meets.

"If you knew his heart or met him even once you would think twice about those nasty comments being said online.

"Why would you wanna try and bring someone else down that you've never even met just because you can see them enjoying themselves."

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The follower added: ";I hope none of this gets to him and he continues to be the superstar that he is."

Shayne was supported by Sophie to do the show
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Shayne was supported by Sophie to do the showCredit: Eroteme

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