So let's recap to a time when X Factor wasn't a sprawling mess of Barlow, Tulisa, Walsh and Rowland, to the day when Matt Cardle won the 2010 series of the Sycopathic spectacle with renditions of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "You Got the Love" and his eventual debut single, "When We Collide". Controversy reigned supreme when Cardle covered what was originally a Biffy Clyro track, "Many of Horror", bringing forth vitriol from the band's fans at a level normally reserved for fascist dictators or pet murderers. The song went to number 1 and the band no doubt got a slice of royalties.

2011 has been relatively quiet for Matt Cardle, until recently - his second single, "Run For Your Life", written by Gary Barlow, has just cracked the singles chart and, with the confirmed success of his debut-album "Letters" (#2 this week), the safety-net has been cast for a UK tour next year. The album's success is due in part to the collaborative talent assembled for song-writing duties, including Fame Academy winner David Sneddon, established producer Phil Thornalley, James Walsh and award-winning Bloc Party and Two Door Cinema Club producer, Eliot James.

The singer's debut UK tour will see him perform his own songs as well as the occasional cover, with the first two shows booked for Rhyl on 28th/29th Feb, followed by York, Cambridge, Oxford, Birmingham and several more until Cardle hits Hammersmith Apollo on 29th March - over 20 shows in total. Tickets are on sale from us on Friday 28th October, priced at £26.50.

Meanwhile, if you can't wait until then, catch him performing songs at the BRMB Live 2011 show at Birmingham's NEC on 26th November. For £29.50 you can go all funny with JLS, Pixie Lott, Cher Lloyd and, of course, young Matt.