After the completition of his successful debut tour, Ward's fourth single and first from his sophomore album ("If That's OK with You") was given a release date of20 August 2007, but was then delayed and became a double A-side single with "No U Hang Up". It was finally released on 24 September 2007, and charted at number two in the UK. "No U Hang Up" and "If That's OK with You" charted separately in Ireland, the former reaching number eleven and the latter entering at number one.
Ward's second album, "Breathless", was released on 26 November 2007, and after selling over 95,000 copies in its first week, debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, held off the top spot by his X Factor successor Leona Lewis, whose debut album had achieved enormous success, however in Ireland it debuted at number one (removing Lewis's album from the top spot) a position it held for three weeks, and was certified five times platinum there. The second single from Ward's album was announced as "Breathless", and was released on 19 November 2007. It peaked at number six in the UK and number two in Ireland. On November10, Ward had performed a world exclusive of "Breathless" on the live results show of the fourth series of The X Factor, although the single was not available for download until the 18 November, followed by a performance on The Paul O'Grady Show on 19 November. There was plans for a third single release from the album, rumoured to be "U Got Me So" but got cancelled due to work on his tour and next album. In the UK the album has been certified platinum with sales of over 450,000.
In May 2008 Ward embarked on his month long UK tour named The Breathless Tour 2008. He made his stage debut at London's O2 Arena and visited his home town Manchester at the MEN Arena. He also performed his complete show as a support act for Westlife’s 2008 tour in front of a crowd of over 80,000 at Ireland's Croke Park.
After touring the UK, Ward plans to return to South Africa for promotional work and some gigs and then he moves on to Australia to work for the first time, before moving on to LA where he will do five weeks of writing and recording Ward has recently explained that he wants a greater creative input on his next album and that he wants people in the UK to recognise the international success he has achieved since The X Factor stating: "People need to realise that I'm not just a UK name. I'm more international."
Ward recently had to cancel a date on his Breathless Tour due to conflict with his recording schedule. According to a blog on his official website he has already started work on the third album in July 2008, and is writing and recording in the UK with Taio Cruz, Karen Poole and Future Cut (who were the producers/writers of Future Cut (who were the producers/writers of Lilly Allen's "Smile"). From mid July 2008 he will be in Los Angeles for four - six weeks writing and recording with US and European writers and producers. The next album is expected towards the end of 2008 or into the first quarter of 2009.
