Your Song viewers shared their brutal verdict as Alison Hammond's new talent show made its debut on Channel 4.

The programme features everyday people performing personal, meaningful songs on a traveling pop-up stage, with both Sam Ryder and Paloma Faith acting as mentors.

It will see the winning contestant ultimately perform on stage at London's Hackney Empire.

Soon into Your Song's launch, viewers noted similarities to fellow Channel 4 show, The Piano.

Fronted by Claudia Winkleman and featuring singer Mika, The Piano likewise features amateur musicians, who, as the title suggests, perform pieces on a piano.

They are privately observed by judges in a nearby room, with the finalists coming together for a spellbinding concert.

Taking to X, one viewer wrote: 'So new #YourSong is just the amazing #Piano series but without the piano??? 

'Think I'd rather have The Piano as used to host and judges etc....but will give this a go ..let's see.'

Another penned: 'This is giving a cross between The Voice and the Piano. #YourSong.'

While a third remarked: '#YourSong I watched all of The Piano episodes. Not sure I'll stick with this though but I'll see what the first few singers are like..'

However, other viewers expressed their enjoyment of Your Song, as one commented: 'What a performance from Elliott.'

Another shared: 'The singers on this are quite good tbf.'

The Daily Mail's TV critic Christopher Stevens awarded Your Song a two-star review.

He wrote: 'This entire format is not likely to leave many people feeling better, neither the performers nor the viewers. 

'Modelled on Channel 4's surprise success The Piano, it invites ordinary people to tell us a story that jerks at our heartstrings, before belting out a tune.

'In place of Claudia Winkleman as presenter, Your Song is hosted by Alison Hammond, whose job is simply to greet each singer and send them on stage with a few words of encouragement.

'But unlike The Piano, where the instrument is plonked in a railway station or a shopping mall, Your Song can't make any pretence at spontaneity.'

Christopher continued: 'We also don't get to hear a full performance, or anything close to it. 

'Every few bars, the camera cuts to Paloma and fellow judge Sam Ryder nattering away, or Alison gossiping in the audience, or the artists themselves, explaining why this song means so much to them.

'That works with The Piano, particularly for instrumentals, but it's disastrous for vocal pieces. Songs are supposed to tell stories.

'Their emotion builds from an introduction to a climax and a resolution. Dipping in and out, and focusing on the big notes, renders them meaningless.

'Worse still, this format implies it's not worth listening to the whole thing. 

'If the singers are good — and a couple, including winner Chantelle, had stunning voices — Your Song ought to do us the courtesy of letting us hear Their Song.'