Fresh from hobnobbing with A list celebs at the Beckhams' World Cup party, Ireland's favourite Englishman Shayne Ward is to dazzle our TV screens with The Irish Tenors.

Since the Mancunian - whose parents hail from Co Roscommon and Co Louth - blazed to glory last Christmas on X-Factor, he has been mentored to massive success with Co Mayo music guru Louis Walsh - and has learned to "love" the attention of hordes of female admirers.

"I love it. It's nice because I never got it before," Shayne told The Star.

Shayne (22) is set to return to our screens for the start of a new entertainment music and chat show with light opera tenors Anthony Kearns, Karl Scully and former priest Finbar Wright.

"I love the Irish Tenors, but hadn't thought about singing with them. I'm very proud of my strong Irish roots and during a brief conversation with Louis I told him how I had been brought up with every kind of music, including country and Irish like The Dubliners, The Fureys and Foster and Alien" Shayne said.

"So Louis said: '"Okay, you are going to be singing in Dublin'. "I told my mum and she made me promise to get her a tape recording of it." During rehearsals at Ardmore International Studios in Bray, Co Wicklow, about 20 production and sound engineers came to a standstill as Shayne performed.

The singer recently mixed with superstars like P. Diddy, Liz Hurley, Kate Moss and Ozzy Osbourne at a €800,000 charity bash at Posh and Becks' mansion in Hertfordshire, England.

"It was fantastic to be invited and I loved meeting Ray Winstone and Steven Gerrard. I support Manchester United so it was great to have a chat with [ex-player] David [Beckham]," he said.

"He wished me good luck for the future. I wasn't even sure he'd know me because he has been in Spain these last few years"

Shayne wouldn't say if he snapped up a limited edition Bentley or a €60,000 Harley Davidson at the auction.

"All I'll say is that I had to borrow off Louis for the auction!"


He added: "I'm still getting used to the fact that these famous people know me. Every day is new for me and I'm just having a laugh.

"Being famous is a massive change. I still can't believe it. I just hope it lasts"

The level-headed singer isn't fazed by the throngs of sexy young women who try to seduce him.


"It's still very strange, but so far so good. My girlfriend is 100 per cent behind me. She knows I'm not stupid enough to jeopardise what I have.

"To be honest, I don't mind all the attention. Actually I love it" he added