"Run for Your Life" was written by the Take That frontman Gary Barlow after he took over the role of head judge on The X Factor in 2011, of which Cardle won the seventh series.

Steve Brookstein and Leon Jackson barely made it past a second single, while Shayne Ward and Joe McElderry were more recently banished from the Syco clique after failing to match the bar set by X Factor female winners Leona and Alexandra.

Fortunately for Matt Cardle, his anti-talent show image during last year's competition gave him a more promising outlook – but is it enough to buck the boys' worrying trend?

Over an anaemic guitar-pop melody, he confesses he's not worthy of his kindly lass, admitting: 'You need someone to walk you back/ Someone to love you too before you ask – before launching into the arm-waving, Gary Barlow-penned chorus.

"[5] WhatCulture gave "Run for Your Life" a positive review, commenting that it "shows off Cardle’s stunning vocal range".