Coldplay’s hits should be the soundtrack to the sheep leaping over your mental fence if you’re serious about nodding off – according to a hotel survey, the UK band’s music is the best antidote for insomnia, unless you prefer a hammer-blow to the back of the head.

Snapping at the heals of Chris Martin’s soporific melodies were the compositions of James Blunt, Snow Patrol, Take That and Norah Jones.

Travelodge ‘Sleep Director’ – sounds challenging - Leigh McCarron, commented: “The research shows that we are increasingly relying on slow, sleepy music and unchallenging books to take our minds off the pressures of modern living and help us get to sleep at night.”

Incidentally, ABTN’s very own editor bumped into Take That member Gary Barlow in a Balham pub last week – the report came back that they chatted briefly, but Barlow was let off the hook and the small matter of ‘the poll’ was not brought up.