Ed Sheeran hibernated for 120 days because he couldn't handle fame

Ed Sheeran stayed holed up in his home for four months because he could not cope with fame.

The Castle On The Hill singer, 26, released his third album ‘Divide’ today and is on course to break records for the most singles from an album to make it into the Official Singles Charts Top 40.

During his hectic press tour for the album, he opened up about how becoming an internationally recognised artist has impacted on his life and Ed sadly admitted he retreated into his west London abode and didn’t leave the house for four months because the pressures of fame were too much.

The music legend – who has returned to the limelight after taking a year-long hiatus from the music scene – admitted he gave up trying to “maintain normality”.

“I stayed inside for four months. I just ordered food in and watched movies.

“I couldn’t just go out and get a pint of milk. I always wanted to maintain normality – being able to go to the pub or go and do a gig,” he told The Sun newspaper.

The star added: “I just stopped going out – instead I was ordering takeaways and putting on a lot of weight..”

Ed also confessed he moved to a “fancy” part of London because he attracted less attention there.

He said: “I think there is a ­difference between fame and success.

“Success is playing Wembley Stadium and fame is not being able to go outside. I think they are two very different things.

“I had to move from where I was in London to somewhere else. I never really wanted to live in the fancy part of town, I never really want to be that guy.

“Then I quickly realised that why everyone lives there is because it’s a sheltered ­community where you don’t really get bothered.”

The star revealed his family and friends have changed toward him since he found fame but admitted it’s partly down to his newfound wealth.

“It makes everyone act weird. They don’t realise that they’re doing it,” the chart star said.

Ed shot to fame in 2011 with hit single ‘The A Team’ and has amassed an estimated £45 million fortune.

Tickets for Ed’s first tour since his record-breaking run at Wembley Stadium in July 2015 sold out in just five minutes….

Ed’s Tour dates are as follows:

Wed 12 April – 3 Arena, Dublin
Thu 13 April – 3 Arena, Dublin
Sun 16 April – SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Mon 17 April – SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Wed 19 April – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Thu 20 April – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Sat 22 April – Manchester Arena
Sun 23 April – Manchester Arena
Tue 25 April – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Wed 26 April – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Fri 28 April – Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham
Sat 29 April – Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham
Mon 1 May – The O2 Arena, London
Tue 2 May – The O2 Arena, London
Wed 3 May – The O2 Arena, London (extra date)