Shayne Ward and Sophie Austin announce their engagement

Shayne Ward and actress Sophie Austin have revealed that they are engaged, just over one year after welcoming their first child together.

Actor and singer Shayne Ward, who rose to fame after competing in the X-Factor in 2005 before landing the role of Aidan Connor in Coronation Street, popped the question to his partner Sophie over Christmas.

Taking to Instagram, both Sophie and Shayne shared the same photo to announce the happy news of their engagement.

Posting a picture of the actress wearing a huge sparkling engagement ring, the couple captioned their photos ‘Mrs Ward to be’.

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Fans rushed to congratulate the couple, who met on the set of Coronation Street where Sophie played Lindsey Butterfield until March 2017.

'Congratulations to you both, so happy for you' wrote one fan, while another added, 'What a beautiful ring congratulations.'

'Congratulations to you both here's to many years of happiness and bliss together' commented another fan, with a fellow follower of the couple writing, 'Hope you both are very happy together and ready to start a new chapter in your life. Have the best 2018.'

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Shayne Ward and Sophie Austin welcomed their first child together, a daughter called Willow, last December. After the birth of Willow-May, Shayne confessed that he felt he was ‘born to be a dad.'

He told the Daily Mirror, 'It is my sole purpose. Everything else in life is a hobby. People say I was born to sing but I think I was born to be a dad.'

Shayne has been enjoying fatherhood so much that he revealed he would like at least 'another two or three' children in the future.

Sophie and Shayne’s engagement comes just days after the couple have just enjoyed spending Christmas together with their families and baby Willow, who recently turned one.