Shayne Ward: 'Breathless'

The success of Shayne Ward's 'No U Hang Up'/ 'If That's OK With You' single - only pipped to the top spot by the Sugababes' unstoppable pop missile 'About You Now' - suggests that those "budget Justin" slurs aren't really sticking. As long as he looks good, sings well and keeps the irresistible choruses coming, pop fans are prepared to overlook his ham-fisted attempts to turn himself into a Timberlake-style sex god.

'Breathless', the title track from his upcoming sophomore album, is a lighters-in-the-air ballad saved from cheesiness by some admirably spare production work. Over a taut drum loop and gurgling synths, the Manchester lad slowly unveils his best ever vocal, hitting a note towards the end that will have JT calling up Carrie and David to arrange a bit of falsetto practice. The only blunder? Ward's admission that he'd "fall deeper" while watching his girlfriend "give life". Yikes. We hope he isn't one of those guys who gets so gooey during childbirth that he swallows his lady's placenta afterwards. Not even a popstar could get away with that.