Ed Sheeran facts: 16 things you didn't know about the 'Sapphire' singer
Brush up on your facts about the global superstar!
Ed Sheeran has had quite the career so far, which he partly attributed to Queen Elizabeth II. His discography includes eight studio albums, with debut album 'Plus' in 2011, followed by 'Multiply', 'Divide', 'No.6 Collaborations Project', 'Equals', 'Subtract', 'Autumn Variations', and his eighth album 'Play', released in September 2025.
He has since dropped hit singles including 'Azizam', 'Old Phone', 'Camera' and 'Sapphire'. He’s currently doing his 'LOOP Tour', which runs through 2026 and includes dates across North America, Latin America, and other regions. Have a scroll through these facts and see if your Ed Sheeran knowledge is up to scratch...
Take a look through these 16 interesting facts about Ed Sheeran:
1. What TV show tattoo has he got?
He's got The Fresh Prince of Bel Air logo on his arm, of course. Acquiring the tattoo while tour in Philadelphia in Autumn 2012, the inking is in honour of the popular TV show, which is one of Ed's favs.
2. Who's he F.R.I.E.N.D.S with?
Actual real life Monica Geller, or as we know her here in the real world, Courteney Cox. He lived with her for three months, rent-free, in exchange for housework, which Ed told the Daily Mail entailed 'making the tea'. He also introduced her to her now-fiancé, Johnny McDaid.
3. Is Ed a big spender?
Certainly not all of the time! The music video for the singer's 2011 hit 'The A Team' was produced for the low low price of £20! Bargain.
4. Do all of Ed's albums contain explicit language?
Nope! He removed all of the explicit lyrics from his album 'X' so that his cab driver's daughter could listen to it. Such a QT!
5. Is Ed a Nando's stan?
Of course he is! Where else would Ed get his chicken? To set in stone just how much he loved the chicken chain, he even teamed up with his pal Example, bringing us the infamous Nando's Song. Who could ever forget?!
6. Which rapper helped cure his stutter?
None other than Eminem! After receiving an unexpected award at the 2015 American Institute for Stuttering Gala, Ed explained that after unsuccessful speech therapy sessions when nine-years-old, learning the rapper's "fast and melodic" lyrics "back to front" enabled him to get rid of his stutter by the time he was 10!
7. Is there anyone he HASN'T written for?!
Ed holds an extensive list of celebs that he has written for/collaborated with, including pretty much everyone. To taste a few, there's One Direction, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Jessie Ware, Rudimental, Usher, Justin Bieber, Major Lazer, Hillary Duff, Robbie Williams, Olly Murs, Stormzy, and the list goes on...
8. Is his single 'Don't' about a certain someone?
Well...it was reportedly written by Ed about an ex-girlfriend that cheated on him. This is, however, not confirmed by the singer.
9. How long was he homeless for?
Ed says he slept outside Buckingham Palace and even spent a week sleeping on the Circle Line.
10. Does he name his guitars?
He sure does! They're called Lloyd, Felix, Cyril and Nigel. Lovely!
11. What other talents does he have?
A lot, we're sure - but to mention one, Ed is a fan of painting! He painted the artwork for his album 'Divide' and even sold a piece of his art as part of a charity auction!
12. What does Ed think when meeting fans?
Ed Sheeran revealed that when meeting fans what he really wants is to have a chat with them! He explained that he prefers this over snapping a quick photo with them: "I would rather a conversation than a selfie, and I feel like people want to do a selfie because they think it's quick. But I would rather talk to someone. I feel like a selfie kind of cheapens the moment."
13. What is Ed Sheeran's favourite scary film?
When asked what his favourite scary film was, Ed revealed he'd just seen the film called Smile which: "Absolutely terrified the living daylights" out of him. He also said The Dark and Wicked was a 'messed up' film!
14. Has Ed ever surprised his fans?
In April 2023, Ed surprised a New York City busker by asking if he could duet with him. 62-year-old Mike Yung was entertaining commuters at Church Street subway station in Brooklyn with his rendition of Ed's track, 'Eyes Closed'. The pair sang together for a few moments, with Mike saying that the interaction 'made his day' after the track ended. Ed then surprised Mike again by offering him free tickets to his next show.
15. Did Ed Sheeran write 'Shape of You' for Rihanna?
Back in 2017, Ed Sheeran had huge success with his hit 'Shape of You', which he released along with 'Castle On The Hill', however it could have been very different, as he revealed he originally thought of offering the song to Rihanna.
As he started to write the lyrics he eventually thought that she probably wouldn't sing them, so he kept the song for himself.
16. Was he the UK's most played artist of 2025?
Ed Sheeran topped the UK's most played artists list in 2025, making it his eighth time reaching Number 1 in 11 years. He has remained one of the biggest names in the chart for years, with his music still heavily played across radio, TV and venues. The result underlines just how powerful and lasting his UK popularity is.
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