Shayne Ward faces 'uphill battle' to stay in BBC's Strictly Come Dancing

The former X Factor winner is said to be struggling with the show's demanding dance routines.

A source told The Sun: "Shayne is a lovely guy and really popular but it's fair to say he's finding the show hard going. The dancing is a lot more intense than he expected and he's struggling with the physical demands."

Shayne, 35, is partnered with professional dancer Natalie Lowe.

The pair have been eliminated twice from the show, but have been brought back after other celebrities have been forced to withdraw due to injury.

A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: "Shayne is a great competitor and has worked hard throughout the series. He is determined to stay in the show and we are behind him all the way."

Last week, Shayne and Natalie performed a salsa to "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas.

The judges praised Shayne for his energy and enthusiasm, but said he needed to work on his timing and control.

Shayne and Natalie will perform a foxtrot to "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin in this weekend's show.

The couple will be hoping to impress the judges and the public to avoid being eliminated for a third time.