CELEBRITY Traitors star James Blunt has rushed out a new single after his first night in the castle saw the singer starring in an explosive shipwreck task that raised thousands of pounds for charity.

The 52-year-old singer-songwriter best known for You’re Beautiful was last night suddenly back in the public eye as he ordered his fellow faithful into action, drawing on his past experience in the Army.

Picture: Jeff Hahn

The season two opener attracted more than nine million viewers, and it is reckoned that half the nation’s TV audience tuned in at one stage, giving the contestants a huge platform to attract fans.

Cue new single Circles, a track inspired by the sounds of the 90s Britpop era and a taster for Blunt’s first new album in three years, Airplane Mode, which is due out on November 6 on Atlantic Records.

“Circles harks back to the inspiration I had for my very first album, of the music from the late 90’s and early 00s,” he says. “This is what I wanted my music to sound like, and it’s who I am as a result.”

Blunt and his band will take the new album out on a European tour early next year, trekking through the UK in the spring.

The UK leg kicks off in Leeds on March 26, includes a return visit to London’s 02 Arena on April 4, and finishes in Brighton on April 8. You can see the full list of tour dates here.

The second episode of Celebrity Traitors airs at 8pm tonight on BBC1 and iPlayer.