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Ed Sheeran co-hosts the show

Ed Sheeran chats to Zoe about his brand new album '=', and he gives us a world exclusive first play of his Christmas single with Elton John!

Global superstar Ed Sheeran co-hosts the show with Zoe and plays songs from his new album '='. Ed has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the world鈥檚 best-selling music artists of all time. Today he releases his fourth album, 鈥=鈥, which he finished writing in January this year. The popstar will be heading out on his world + - = 梅 X Tour next year.

Zoe chats to Ed about the album, the stories behind the songs, his love of Vinyl records, and Ipswich Town FC.

Also, a few callers come on the line to speak to the man himself, and Ed tops off the show with a world exclusive performance of his new Christmas single with Elton John!

There's also a Pause For Thought from Paul Kerensa and a cracking Pick Your Own Playlist from Lee Wick-Torko in Devon!

1 hour, 25 minutes

Music Played

  • Ed Sheeran

    Shape Of You

    • 梅 Divide.
    • Atlantic.
  • Robin S

    Show Me Love

    • Best Of Dance 93 (Various Artists).
    • Telstar.
  • Ed Sheeran

    Overpass Graffiti

    • = Equals.
    • Asylum.
  • Rockwell

    Somebody's Watching Me

    • Dancing In The Street (Various Artis.
    • Universal Music Tv.
  • Ed Sheeran

    The Joker & The Queen (feat. Taylor Swift)

    • = (Equals).
    • Atlantic.
  • Ed Sheeran

    Tides

  • Stardust

    Music Sounds Better With You

    • Now 41 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Basement Jaxx

    Where's Your Head At

    • (CD Single).
    • XL.
  • Safri Duo

    Played A-Live (The Bongo Song)

  • Joy Crookes

    When You Were Mine

    • Skin.
    • Speakerbox Recordings.
    • 5.
  • John Paul Young

    Love Is In The Air

    • 20 Songs Of Love From The 70's (Vario.
    • MFP.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

The comedy circuit recently lost a great name 鈥 not one many will know, so I want to shout about: Phil Butler. Phil took a final bow last week, just 51 鈥 but onstage he had the energy of someone half his age. I鈥檝e gigged with him countless times 鈥 Phil always stole the show, via magic, ventriloquism, a mix of rudeness and joy, and just comedy comedy comedy through him like a stick of rock. Phil actually lived in a converted ambulance on a naturist resort! I should say, not all comedians actually live somewhere that sounds like it鈥檚 in a comedy. Phil Butler was the first comedian to perform on the frontline for troops in Afghanistan 鈥 but he was equally fantastic at family shows. I took my kids to see him in panto 鈥 they howled with laughter. Best Buttons I ever saw.He should have been in panto this Christmas, alongside Craig Revel Horwood鈥檚 dame. Craig tweeted, Phil was 鈥渁 lovely talented man, a wonderful kind friend... I鈥檒l miss you terribly.鈥 On the comedy circuit, we all will.

When a loved one dies 鈥 and Phil was loved, by comedians and audiences 鈥 many talk of heaven, what鈥檚 after. I don鈥檛 know his beliefs 鈥 maybe the only place he thought about going to was his next gig. But perhaps that, his stage, was a piece of heaven. C.S. Lewis wrote that 鈥淛oy is the serious business of Heaven鈥. I think in the meantime, earthly joy can be a glimpse of heavenly joy 鈥 and spreading that joy can be one of the greatest gifts on earth.

In one routine, Phil had a fake Siri-type phone voice answer him back sarcastically 鈥 searching for his name, his phone essentially shrugs: 鈥淎re you sure you wouldn鈥檛 prefer me to search for a better comedian?鈥 Right now I can鈥檛 think of one. Phil closed every show 鈥淕oodnight, God bless鈥. I鈥檓 sure his talent was indeed God-blessed. His name may not be on everyone鈥檚 lips, but a laugh was, everywhere he went. Interviewed this year, Phil was asked what impact he wanted to leave on the world.听"I'd love it if people would think of me, from time to time when I'm gone, and smile. That's all any of us can hope for,鈥 he said.听Phil Butler 鈥 take a bow. I鈥檒l certainly think of you and smile. Goodnight, God bless.

Broadcast

  • Fri 29 Oct 2021 08:05