Ed Sheeran warned bike accident could have ended his career

Singer-songwriter broke both arms and a rib in crash and forced to cancel Asian leg of world tour

Rita Ora, Ed Sheeran and Gordon Ramsay on The Jonathan Ross Show (Brian J Ritchie/Hotsauce/Rex)

A crocked Ed Sheeran was warned he may not play guitar again if he battled through the pain to perform.

The singer-songwriter broke both arms and a rib after crashing his bicycle on Monday and was forced to postpone upcoming performances in Asia.

He told The Jonathan Ross Show he initially wanted to fight through the pain and avoid cancelling any shows.

“I did try to be like 'I will'. I tried to say I'll carry on doing the shows, but they said if I put any more stress on it, I might not be able to play (guitar) again so it's good to be sensible.”

He added: “I do a one man show so me not having my arms is half of the show, so I've had to postpone a couple of shows, which sucks. It's actually the first time I've ever cancelled shows.

“Sometimes a show has been cancelled because a promoter has done something, but it's the first time that I've ever actually cancelled a show.”

He added he could be back to full fitness within four weeks.

Recalling the accident, the 'Galway Girl' singer said: “I was in Suffolk (going down a really steep hill). The thing is, when it happened, I got up and was like, 'That hurt' and then cycled to the pub. Went home, went to sleep and then woke up at five o'clock in the morning in a lot of pain. And then went to the hospital.”

“I don't think I'm going to cycle for a while. I've got quite a big tour next year,” he added.

The red-headed performer said his latest injuries were one of a series of crocks.

“I'm quite a clumsy guy anyway,” he said. “I remember before a show in 2013 I had to have 12 stitches in my hand because I was playing drums with two beer bottles at about four o'clock in the morning and smashed my hand.

“But I did a show after that and, it wasn't fine, but I did a show. Then I put my foot in a boiling geyser in Iceland, I had my face cut open, I'm a very clumsy person.”

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Also appearing on Friday night's The Jonathan Ross Show is singer Rita Ora, TV chef Gordon Ramsay and comedian Russell Howard.

PA