Belfast Telegraph 24/12/06
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/features/article2100187.ece Shayne Ward: 'I'm doing this for my mum' Sunday, December 24, 2006 Leona may have won this year's X-Factor, but 2005 winner Shayne Ward is still the top of the pops with females. The heart-throb talks to Sunday Life ahead of his January concert in Belfast If you had to survey some Ulster women about what they would like in Santa's sack this Christmas, then chances are they'll tell you that they want Shayne Ward. You see the shaven-haired sex muffin has been breaking hearts ever since he first appeared on the 2005 series of X-Factor. Not only did Sharon Osbourne lust after him live on telly every Saturday night, backstage he was also a hot property with the ladies. But for Shayne, there was only ever one woman in his life-his mum. "The reason I'm doing all of this is for my mum," says Shayne. " I think she deserves the best. "She's brought up seven kids and now she can relax now and not be stressed out every Saturday night with whether I'm going to be voted out or not. She can just relax and think 'my son's done it for me'." Last Christmas, Shayne had his first number one single with That's My Goal. All thing's considered, it was probably the best Christmas present a 22-year-old struggling singer could ask for. That's My Goal shifted 313,000 copies in its first day alone and is the third fas-*test*-('") single ever (behind Elton John's Candle in the Wind and Will Young's Evergreen). While some could be forgiven for letting new-found success go to their heads, Shayne remains convinced that he's still the same working class Cheshire lad at heart. "I don't think my life is that much different," he confesses. " I'm still the same person, deep down, before I took part in the show - the only major difference is that I've been singing in front of millions of people. "I'm so grateful for my manager Louis Walsh. I know he believes in me and I'm thankful he gave me the opportunity to make something of my life." Eighteen months ago, Shayne was working in a women's shoe shop while keeping his dream alive by singing in local working men's clubs as part of the band Destiny (which also featured Tracy Murphy and Tracey Lyle). A few short months later, he became a heart-throb to millions and the rest is, as they say, history. "I've never thought of myself as good looking -honest!" he says, modestly. "If people say I'm good looking then I say thank you. It's a compliment isn't it? It's flattering. "If you could see me now, it makes me blush. It's so nice for that kind of support." Since winning X-Factor, Shayne has been making friends in some very high places - namely former Take That singer and all-round pop superstar Robbie Williams. "I was doing Top of the Pops earlier this year and someone said Robbie wanted to meet me. I thought it was a wind up, of course. "Then he came over and introduced himself and I have to say he was lovely. He told me he was a huge X-Factor fan and that he'd been voting for me. "He also gave me some advice. He told me I should just enjoy myself and make the most of it. I could tell he really meant what he said. "I think being given career advice from the UK's biggest pop star is the icing on the cake for me." But not all of Shayne's dreams have come true since he charmed his way into the nation's hearts. His family's personal troubles have continued to fill up column inches across the globe. Before he had even debuted on the live finals it became public knowledge that his father was in prison for rape and his brother had been caught up in a murder inquiry, before being found innocent of any crime. To make matters worse for the Ward clan, Shayne's mum Philomena (who is originally from Dundalk in Co Louth) was arrested on suspicion of assault in the run-up before the live final and three days after his victory two of his uncles and a cousin had also been convicted of murder and another cousin was charged with rape. However, Shayne doesn't let the negativity get him down and he is convinced it has only made his family closer. "It hasn't made any difference to me," says Shayne resolutely. " It only makes me stronger, actually. "My family's too strong to let stories that may come out in the Press get between us. We've got such a strong bond, nothing gets to us." As other pop stars like Britney, Robbie and Madonna seem to be going off the rails a little, Shayne is determined that he won't become a victim of the same pit-falls of his predecessors. In fact, as the singer prepares to embark on a mammoth UK tour in the new year, he's positive he won't be just another one hit wonder. "There's nothing about being famous that worries me," he says finally. "All I've got to do is sing, so that's my main focus. I'm not going to let anything get in my way. I've made it this far, so if I keep focused I'll be fine." € Shayne Ward plays the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on January 29. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/features/article2100187.ece Shayne Ward: 'I'm doing this for my mum' Sunday, December 24, 2006 Leona may have won this year's X-Factor, but 2005 winner Shayne Ward is still the top of the pops with females. The heart-throb talks to Sunday Life ahead of his January concert in Belfast If you had to survey some Ulster women about what they would like in Santa's sack this Christmas, then chances are they'll tell you that they want Shayne Ward. You see the shaven-haired sex muffin has been breaking hearts ever since he first appeared on the 2005 series of X-Factor. Not only did Sharon Osbourne lust after him live on telly every Saturday night, backstage he was also a hot property with the ladies. But for Shayne, there was only ever one woman in his life-his mum. "The reason I'm doing all of this is for my mum," says Shayne. " I think she deserves the best. "She's brought up seven kids and now she can relax now and not be stressed out every Saturday night with whether I'm going to be voted out or not. She can just relax and think 'my son's done it for me'." Last Christmas, Shayne had his first number one single with That's My Goal. All thing's considered, it was probably the best Christmas present a 22-year-old struggling singer could ask for. That's My Goal shifted 313,000 copies in its first day alone and is the third fas-*test*-('") single ever (behind Elton John's Candle in the Wind and Will Young's Evergreen). While some could be forgiven for letting new-found success go to their heads, Shayne remains convinced that he's still the same working class Cheshire lad at heart. "I don't think my life is that much different," he confesses. " I'm still the same person, deep down, before I took part in the show - the only major difference is that I've been singing in front of millions of people. "I'm so grateful for my manager Louis Walsh. I know he believes in me and I'm thankful he gave me the opportunity to make something of my life." Eighteen months ago, Shayne was working in a women's shoe shop while keeping his dream alive by singing in local working men's clubs as part of the band Destiny (which also featured Tracy Murphy and Tracey Lyle). A few short months later, he became a heart-throb to millions and the rest is, as they say, history. "I've never thought of myself as good looking -honest!" he says, modestly. "If people say I'm good looking then I say thank you. It's a compliment isn't it? It's flattering. "If you could see me now, it makes me blush. It's so nice for that kind of support." Since winning X-Factor, Shayne has been making friends in some very high places - namely former Take That singer and all-round pop superstar Robbie Williams. "I was doing Top of the Pops earlier this year and someone said Robbie wanted to meet me. I thought it was a wind up, of course. "Then he came over and introduced himself and I have to say he was lovely. He told me he was a huge X-Factor fan and that he'd been voting for me. "He also gave me some advice. He told me I should just enjoy myself and make the most of it. I could tell he really meant what he said. "I think being given career advice from the UK's biggest pop star is the icing on the cake for me." But not all of Shayne's dreams have come true since he charmed his way into the nation's hearts. His family's personal troubles have continued to fill up column inches across the globe. Before he had even debuted on the live finals it became public knowledge that his father was in prison for rape and his brother had been caught up in a murder inquiry, before being found innocent of any crime. To make matters worse for the Ward clan, Shayne's mum Philomena (who is originally from Dundalk in Co Louth) was arrested on suspicion of assault in the run-up before the live final and three days after his victory two of his uncles and a cousin had also been convicted of murder and another cousin was charged with rape. However, Shayne doesn't let the negativity get him down and he is convinced it has only made his family closer. "It hasn't made any difference to me," says Shayne resolutely. " It only makes me stronger, actually. "My family's too strong to let stories that may come out in the Press get between us. We've got such a strong bond, nothing gets to us." As other pop stars like Britney, Robbie and Madonna seem to be going off the rails a little, Shayne is determined that he won't become a victim of the same pit-falls of his predecessors. In fact, as the singer prepares to embark on a mammoth UK tour in the new year, he's positive he won't be just another one hit wonder. "There's nothing about being famous that worries me," he says finally. "All I've got to do is sing, so that's my main focus. I'm not going to let anything get in my way. I've made it this far, so if I keep focused I'll be fine." € Shayne Ward plays the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on January 29. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster