Shayne Ward hits back at Strictly Come Dancing fans after they branded him 'insufferable' and 'cocky' during his first live performance

Shayne Ward hit back at Strictly Come Dancing fans on Monday after viewers branded him 'cocky' and 'insufferable' on the hit BBC show.

The X Factor winner and actor, 39, got off to a steady start with his professional partner Nancy Xiu during Saturday's live show as the couple scored a score of 21 for their Samba to Stevie Wonder's Do I Do.

During the performance, there was no shortage of stage presence from the former Coronation Street star as he put on a brilliant performance in an all-black sparkly outfit.

However, his energetic dance was too much for viewers at home as they took to X, formerly known as Twitter , to complain the star appeared 'overconfident'.

One fan wrote: 'If Shayne Ward was made of chocolate he'd lick himself.'; 'Find someone that loves you as much as Shayne Ward loves himself.'

However, Shayne took to his Instagram to assure fans that their statements couldn't be further from the truth.

Posting a glum black-and-white selfie, Shayne said: 'Strictly is amazing and I love being part of it.'

'But through my smile on TV I'm as nervous as the next person.'

'Not cocky or overconfident... I'm nervous!'

'I just gotta work hard and listen to my wonderful teacher Nancy Xiu. All I can do is my best!'

During his performance, his wife, Sophie Austin, 40, was spotted in the audience proudly clapping alongside her dad, Austin.

The Manchester-born star won the second series of X Factor in 2005, competing against Andy Abraham, who finished in second place, and Journey South, who took third.

He also won a recording contract with Simon Cowell's Syco label and went on to release several successful singles.

Shayne's biggest hits include That's My Goal; his debut single reached number one in the UK.

Another popular track is No Promises, which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.

His song Breathless from his second album was also a big hit and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.

Ever the showman, Shayne won a National Television Award in 2006 for Most Popular Talent Show for his win on X Factor.

Aside from his music career, Shayne decided to hit the West End as he took on the role of Staycee Jaxx in the '80s musical Rock of Ages.

And after he achieved a successful career in music, he broadened his horizons by venturing into acting.

He joined the cobbles as bad boy Aidan Connor in August 2015 – the half-brother of Carla, who owned the knicker factory, Underworld, at the time.

His character quickly became known as a ladies' man, something which came back to haunt him in a complicated love triangle between Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) and Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley).

In a typically dramatic conclusion to the storyline, Aidan felt the wrath of Eva as she went 'full bunny boiler' on the discovery of his affair with a devious plot to sabotage their wedding day.

He bagged two gongs for Best Newcomer in 2016 – one at the National Television Awards and the other at the Inside Soap Awards.

However, in 2018 his on-screen persona died by suicide.

Shayne has been in a relationship with Hollyoaks actress Sophie since 2016.

The couple got engaged in 2017 but postponed their wedding day during the coronavirus pandemic.