BBC Strictly's Shayne Ward and Sophie Austin's huge wedding news as date confirmed

Shayne Ward has opened up about his upcoming wedding to Sophie Austin - and the two very important people in his life who will have starring roles on the Big Day

Former X Factor sensation Shayne Ward has shed light on why he and long-time love, actress Sophie Austin, have been playing coy about their wedding date. In a revealing chat with OK! amidst his gruelling Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals, Coronation Street star Shayne dished the dirt on the so-called delay of their big day plans.

The couple fell for each other back in 2015, and became proud parents to Willow-May in late 2016 before announcing their happy engagement a short time later. Fast forward seven years and they're still not hitched – but Shayne told OK! that there's a very good reason. "When me and Sophie first got engaged, we hadn't thought about a date but we knew it would be in the near future," he revealed. "Then our focus became about having a second child, and our beautiful son Reign was born."

With little Reign joining their lives in June 2022, the duo have since been soaking up family bliss, juggling parenting with their action-packed acting gigs. But now, according to Shayne, they're ready to re-focus on their nuptials. "As time has gone on, we've realised just how much more special it's going to be to have our children at our wedding," he shared. "We're excited to see Willow-May and Reign play a huge part in it. Willow-May gets so excited about it and tells us 'OK, Mummy and Daddy, next year is your wedding.'".

Shayne, who recently marked his 40th birthday in the Strictly rehearsal room with partner Nancy Xu, revealed that he and Sophie are still deciding on key details like the guest list, but they know what will make the date truly special. "There's a part of us that would love a big bash and have everybody there, but there's also a part of us that would like a small intimate wedding. Next year will be our 10th anniversary of being together and it's going to feel amazing to say 'I Do' to Sophie."

Before taking to the Strictly dance floor for the Halloween special on Saturday, October 27, Shayne shared that being away from Sophie and the kids for six weeks has been the toughest part of his experience.

"Being away from Sophie and the children has been hard," he says. "But Sophie is incredible and has been my absolute rock through this adventure. Each week Willow-May tells me 'You've got to stay in Daddy, you're doing amazing Daddy'. It makes me so happy. Nancy has been so amazing too, because she knows just how important family is, and how much family means to me."

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