Ed Sheeran: I helped pay off my friend’s mortgage

Singer Ed Sheeran is thrilled hit single Thinking Out Loud has helped dig a close friend out of financial hardship.

The British star hit the top spot with the sweet ballad in a number of countries around the world last year (14), as well as making it into the top ten in the United States and Canada. The track has not only proved one of Ed's most popular, but it helped childhood pal Amy Wadge get back on her feet financially too.

"She was going through financial troubles about a year ago," he told Britain's The Mirror newspaper. "She drove to my house – my album was nearly done – and she asked if I could put a song from when I was 17 on the deluxe album, so she could get a little bit of money and pay the mortgage and bills and stuff. While she was there, we wrote Thinking Out Loud. Now she never has to worry about money again."

Thinking Out Loud eventually went three times platinum in the UK and is one of the most popular songs on Spotify, hitting half a billion streams. While Ed gets to enjoy performing the track for his fans, he's just as glad Amy and her loved ones are benefiting from it in their own way.

"She's got a family and two kids and stuff and every time I speak to her, she's going on holiday," he added. "It's really nice to see. It wouldn't have happened if she hadn't come down from Wales to see me."

Ed made the admission ahead of his hosting duties at the MTV European Music Awards in Milan, Italy on Sunday (25Oct15). As well as presenting the televised show alongside actress Ruby Rose, the 24 year old picked up two awards and put on a rousing performance of Lay It All On Me with Rudimental.