Now is around the time that Ed Sheeran said that he'd be returning to the music business following his year off, but there's still no sign of new material from the ginger singer.

However, a rumour has developed that he might be making his comeback in a different sort of manner - namely, as the writer of this year's X Factor winner's song.

It seems that Simon Cowell wants to bring in the big guns, after last year's winner's single - a cover of Bob Dylan's 'Forever Young' by Louisa Johnson - only reached number 9 in the charts.

A source told The Sun: "Everything Ed does turns to gold. To have him write the winner’s song is huge and amazing news for this year’s winner. All the remaining contestants have heard the track and it works for the majority. They can’t believe potentially their first ever single will be written by Ed.”

Don't worry, Honey G haters - if she or 5AM manage to pull off a win, neither of them will be singing Sheeran's song, according to the source, who claimed: "Then bosses might need to consider another one of their options.”