Former X Factor winner Matt Cardle has given a candid interview about his past drug addiction, admitting he was close to death on more than one occasion.
The singer-songwriter, who won the seventh series of X Factor, told The Sun how he turned to alcohol and pills to cope with fame following his 2010 win.
Matt, 34, said he began taking Tramadol after a minor finger injury and using Valium to calm his fear of flying, and it all spiralled out of control from there.
His binges would come after he’d been boozing. When asked how many times he’d come close to death, he said there were “a number of them” but he didn’t always realise because he would be alone during the worst binges.
“I would wake up in various parts of my flat, in the toilet, in my bedroom, on the bed, off the bed, in the lounge, and it would always be like, ‘Oh that’’s where it ended’.
“If you were on your own and you’re completely smashed and you’ve taken one or two too many, you won’t wake up, it’ll stop your heart and that’s it.”
He added: “I got lucky on a number of occasions not to have been found [bleeping] cold.”
Matt managed to turn his life around, entering rehab after hitting rock bottom when he had a “meltdown” in the middle of Heathrow Airport.
It’s not the first time Matt has spoken publicly about his devastating addiction.
Read more: Liam Payne shares a very pointed message for Cheryl on Mother’s Day
After leaving rehab in 2014, he told The Sun on Sunday: “The doctor said to me if I’d been left to my own devices for another three or four weeks I might not be here now.”
He added: “To be told it is life or death, I was like, ‘Hold on a minute, how have I come to this? How has it got this bad?'”
Matt won the seventh series of X Factor eight years ago, famously beating fellow acts including One Direction, Rebecca Ferguson and Cher Lloyd.
He signed a joint deal with Simon Cowell’s Syco record label and Columbia following the win, but just two years later, he asked to leave, claiming all the attention was on One Direction.
“I would just have been left to get on with it while One Direction ruled the planet. Which is brilliant for them – I’m so proud of them – but I needed to be a bit selfish. I asked Sony to let me go and they said okay.”
His troubles became public knowledge in 2014, when it emerged the former painter and decorator had been battling a secret addiction to drink and prescription drugs, which led him to voluntarily enter rehab.
After leaving rehab, he returned to the limelight, winning praise for his role as Huey Calhoun in Memphis: The Musical.
Now, he’s preparing to release his new album, Time To Be Alive.
“What’s different with this album is that I felt like I was on a manufacturing line after X Factor,” he previously told DigitalSpy.
“I released three albums in three years and to be honest, that isn’t sustainable as a writer, a performer or as a human being.
“What has been brilliant for me this time around is the more relaxed nature of the writing and recording process. I’ve had gaps where I’ve been able to live life, recharge and become inspired again.”
Matt took to Instagram on Tuesday to thank fans for their support over the years saying: “Today is so huge for me… this album has been three years in the making. I cannot wait to hear what you guys think of it all. Your support means the world to me.”
Don’t miss out: Three steps to ensure you see all ED!’s latest news on Facebook
Fans were quick to wish Matt luck with the release and share their excitement.
One wrote: “Love you to pieces Matt! You’ve worked so so hard and this is going to be an amazing time for you. Can’t wait to hear Time To Be Alive.”
Another said: “Your music makes the world more beautiful… thanks.”
A third added: “Fabulous voice thank you so much for the pleasure you give us.”
Matt’s album, Time To Be Alive, is available to pre-order now.
Are you excited to hear new music from Matt? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!