Shayne Ward has a new look since leaving Corrie and fans are loving it

Five months after leaving Coronation Street, Shayne Ward has a new look and we are seriously feeling it.

He may have found fame as a pop heartthrob on The X Factor way back in 2005 (yep, as in 13 actual human years ago) but Shayne's just unveiled a new hipster vibe. The actor and singer has shared a photo of himself looking completely unlike his soap character Aidan Connor, sporting a bushy beard and wearing a Pharrell-esque hat and some funky jewellery. Fans of Shayne's were pretty surprised by the new look but seemed to be in to it. The transformation even earned him a comparison to Tom Hardy's character in Peaky Blinders, which can't be a bad thing.

Looks like Alfie Solomans, Peaky Blinders #TomHardy pic.twitter.com/NZTI8Ca77A

— Angie Quinn (@AngieCQuinn) October 16, 2018

Omg you look so different but still handsome ??????

— susie (@susie22784334) October 16, 2018

Gorgeous ?

— mand (@mand15242273) October 16, 2018

Shayne won serious praise earlier this year for the suicide storyline that saw Aidan Connor leave Coronation Street. Aidan, who first appeared on the soap in 2015, took his own life as part of his harrowing exit. Shayne's performance was praised by fans and critics alike and was reported to have caused a surge in people reaching out to mental health charities in the UK. Yesterday he tweeted that he was "lost for words" that he hadn't earned a National Television Award nomination for the portrayal and that Richard Hawley, who played his onscreen dad Johnny Connor, had been snubbed.

This was the one I worked hard for.

It’s always a blessing to be put forward for a nomination And Im always humbled. But to have not even been considered for Best Serial Drama Performance for Aidan’s suicide has really hurt me. No nod for @RichardHawley1 too Lost for words. ? https://t.co/3ssnwRYyDC — Shayne Ward (@shayneTward) October 16, 2018