Matt Cardle has revealed that he believes he came close to killing himself while in the grip of addiction to prescription drugs.

The 2010 winner of The X Factor went to rehab a month ago after breaking down while spending Christmas with his family - and has now spoken to The Sun On Sunday.

"I was so out of it — I was like a zombie," he confessed.

"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."

Matt became dependant on Valium and alcohol to help him deal with the pressures of his showbiz career - having first tried the anti-anxiety drug to get over his fear of flying.

But he admits that his habit soon got out of hand, especially when he started drinking heavily too.

"I didn't have my wits about me to even count how many I'd taken. It was a lethal situation. Towards the end I was so out of it I was asking people around me how many pills they'd seen me eat.

"That is what kills people. It's what killed Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith.

"Any time I started to feel stressed I would lean on the drugs and drink. I was kidding myself thinking I had a handle on it. That little word in front of the drug — 'prescription' — gave it an air of safety for me.

"But it's the total opposite — they are so highly addictive both physically and mentally."

Matt says his use of the drug got out of hand last year after he split from his girlfriend.

And he revealed that his spell in The Priory saw him perform the strangest gig of his career - to an audience of fellow patients.

"I took my guitars in with me and I had a little serenade for the guys in there on New Year's Eve.

"I was still under heavy sedation. I didn't sound great but they seemed to appreciate it. It was the weirdest gig I have ever done. But you have to hit rock bottom in order to come back.

"I definitely did that. I have never been in such a dark place."