Coronation Street hunk Shayne Ward hits back at hurtful body shamers

Coronation Street actor Shayne Ward has said he gets trolled online about his weight, as he posed in his underwear for a new body confidence campaign.

The actor and singer, 32, is one of several male stars who have peeled off their clothes for Loose Women’s campaign to get men talking about their bodies.

Ward said he has faced criticism himself.

“If someone’s just going to comment on the fact that I’m a little bit bigger than I used to be, I’m 32, when I first joined the pop industry I was 21, so of course my body’s going to change after that amount of time,” he said.

“Being in the public eye can make you more conscious, without a shadow of a doubt, and that’s what’s great about this campaign.

“Hopefully this campaign will give men the confidence to talk about body confidence issues, because a lot of it is thrown away as banter; ‘Ah you’ve got a bit of a belly,’ ‘So have you mate.’

“And then it’s done, but actually, once that conversation stops and someone starts to talk about something else, you’re left with that, thinking, actually I do feel like I’ve put on a bit of weight. This campaign is going to be brilliant for that.”

Ward was inspired by the first stage of the campaign, in which Loose Women’s female panellists posed in the underwear in a bid to get other women to embrace their shapes and the stories their bodies told.

He said: “I found the women’s version very sexy, because you look at all the different shapes and sizes and you could see how confident they all felt around each other, and that’s what it’s about.

“And that’s what it’s going to be like when you see the guys’ campaign.”

Other male stars taking part include Frank Bruno, Bruno Tonioli, Robbie Savage, David Ginola, Dr Ranj and Robert Rinder.

Football star Ginola said a heart attack that left him dead for eight minutes has changed his outlook on body confidence.

Ginola, who had the heart attack in May 2016, said: “One day I just fell on the floor and was dead [for eight minutes].

“The clinic told me that nine out of 10 people who return after that happens are in a vegetative state.

“I must have a lucky star – that must be my mother up there watching over me.

“After what’s happened to me I want to do something positive with my life, help other men take a look at their body and their health, and this campaign is helping with those things.”

Ginola, 50, added: “The shoot says to men – you don’t need to be ashamed of talking about your body. I think we should all be proud of ourselves.”

:: ITV’s Loose Women airs on weekdays 12.30pm – 1.30pm.