AS revelations about his family's distinctively shady past continue to fill column inches, Shayne Ward is remaining remarkably resilient.

Before the singer had even achieved his triumphant victory on the second series of The X Factor, we'd already learnt his father was in prison for rape and that his brother had been caught up in a murder inquiry before being found innocent.

If that wasn't enough, in the run-up to the final, his mother Philomena was arrested on suspicion of assault, and three days after his win it was reported two of his uncles and a cousin had also been convicted of murder, and another cousin of rape.

"It hasn't made any difference to me," says Shayne resolutely. "It only makes me stronger, actually. My family's too strong to let stories that may come out in the press get between us."

The news has done little to dent the 21-year-old's confidence, or his popularity.

Shayne That's My Goal entered the chart at number one after only four days on sale. A spokesman for the 21-year-old said 742,180 copies had been bought in stores and as an internet download.

Last week's number one, folk-pop group Nizlopi's JCB Song, fell to number two, while The Pogues' reissued festive song Fairytale of New York was new at three.