Ed Sheeran has revealed he once turned down the chance to perform in space because he didn’t want to risk leaving his children without a father.
During Wednesday’s instalment of The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, the singer, 34, joined the radio presenter, 51, to discuss his new album Play, Lewis Capaldi’s return to the spotlight, and moving to America for his upcoming tour.
However, Ed left Scott stunned when he casually revealed he’d been offered the opportunity to perform a gig beyond Earth’s atmosphere – and declined.
While chatting about Mariah Carey’s recent appearance on the show, where she said she wouldn’t go to space, Ed admitted: ‘I was offered to go to space a while ago, you know.
He explained: ‘It terrifies me, I want to go to space when it’s like flying to France, and 40,000 people have done it, and you can just book it online. I don’t want to be a guinea pig for that, because it still is dangerous.
‘There are other places on this planet that I would love to see first. I would love to go to Greenland. There are places on this planet I would rather go to than space.’
Ed Sheeran has revealed he once turned down the chance to perform in space because he didn’t want to risk leaving his children without a father
During Wednesday’s instalment of The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, the singer, 34, joined the radio presenter (pictured), 51, to discuss his new album Play, Lewis Capaldi’s return to the spotlight, and moving to America for his upcoming tour
Ed continued: ‘There was talk about doing a first gig in space, I’m sure lots of people got this email, but yeah, it terrifies me.
When asked if he thought the offer was still on the table, Ed replied: ‘Aw mate, I ain’t doing it – I got kids, like I’m not going to risk that for a Guinness World Record something or other. I’m not going to risk my kid’s not having a dad.’
Ed and his childhood sweetheart, Cherry Seaborn, who he married in 2019, share two daughters: Lyra, four, and Jupiter, two.
Elsewhere in the show, Ed spoke about his friend Lewis Capaldi’s long-awaited return to performing after a two-year break to focus on his mental health.
He said: ‘I haven’t seen Lewis on tour, but we have been speaking a fair bit. I’m really happy for him – I really think that him taking time off was the best thing for him and his health.
‘He has actually come back into it like reinvigorated and really loving it again, which I don’t think he was on his second record.’
The interview comes after Ed gave a very rare insight into life with his wife Cherry on Tuesday as he opened up about ‘real conflict’ in their marriage at a surprise fan event in London.
The singer and his childhood sweetheart are notoriously private about their relationship.
However, Ed left Scott stunned when he casually revealed he’d been offered the opportunity to perform a gig beyond Earth’s atmosphere – and declined
While chatting about Mariah Carey’s recent appearance on the show, where she said she wouldn’t go to space, Ed said: ‘There was talk about doing a first gig in space, I’m sure lots of people got this email, but yeah, it terrifies me’
When asked if he thought the offer was still on the table, Ed replied: ‘Aw mate, I ain’t doing it – I got kids. I’m not going to risk my kid’s not having a dad’
But as he spoke at a Spotify Q&A on Tuesday, he said it was important to be honest about the ups and downs that come with any relationship.
Ed surprised fans in London with an unexpected street performance as part of the special Spotify fan event.
Stepping out in Kings Cross, Ed treated fans and unsuspecting passersby to an impromptu performance of Camera from his new album Play.
The performance was preceded by an immersive listening event for Play at London’s immersive Lightroom space.
Ed himself then walked on stage for a surprise Q&A with Nihal Arthanayake, greeted by disbelieving cheers in the room.
Ed shared intimate, behind-the-scenes stories about the album’s creation and spoke about his marriage to Cherry.
He said of how the ups and downs of marriage inspired songs about love and conflict: ‘Cherry knows I write about everything – not just the good stuff. Songs like ‘Perfect’ exist, but so do the ones about real conflict.
‘That’s part of any relationship, and I think it’s important to be honest about it.’
Ed and his childhood sweetheart, Cherry Seaborn, who he married in 2019, share two daughters: Lyra, four, and Jupiter, two (Ed and Cherry pictured last year)
He also reflected on how he is now more family and friends focused rather than all about work.
Ed said: ‘In my early career, it was 100 per cent work, 0 per cent personal life. Now it’s 70 per cent family, 30 per cent music. Balance isn’t just healthy – it’s success.
‘When I look back at these years with my family and friends, I want to say: I lived those days and I enjoyed every minute.’
He also said one of his new songs is written for Cherry.
He said: ‘Cherry heard the Bono story about missing his wife’s birthday and writing her a song, so it inspired me to gift her one. It’s a personal moment that exists only for her.’
