He was the fresh-faced cheeky chap who everyone loved, enthralling TV viewers with his old-fashioned swing-based style on the third series of The X Factor in 2006. Ray Quinn even nearly won the show, coming runner-up to singing sensation Leona Lewis. The Mersyside-born star went on to release a No 1 album, Doin' It My Way – featuring songs including Ain't That A Kick In The Head and My Way – but, after a 30-date UK tour, he was dropped by Simon Cowell's Syco record label at the end of 2007.

Undeterred, Ray took part in Dancing On Ice in 2009 and the All Star series in 2014, winning both shows with his incredible skating skills. (Image: BPM) (Image: ITV) And his fame didn't end there – panto and musical theatre roles followed, and in 2018 Ray returned to his soap roots. Having previously played tormented Anthony Murray in Channel 4's Brookside from 2000 to 2003, he then starred as Jonny Baxter in Hollyoaks,.

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