Ed Sheeran lands cameo on Game of Thrones

Ed Sheeran is to appear in the new season of Game Of Thrones.

Show creator David Benioff made the big casting coup reveal during a panel chat at the the 2017 South by Southwest Festival in Texas on Sunday (12Mar17).

He explained he had been trying to get Ed, a fan of the fantasy drama, to make a cameo appearance for years, and his debut will feature in season seven.

"For years, we tried to get Ed Sheeran on the show to surprise (show regular) Maisie (Williams), and this year we finally did it," Benioff said.

Williams, who moderated the panel chat with co-star Sophie Turner, appeared excited when Sheeran's cameo was confirmed. She's a big fan of the singer.

The new season will also feature newcomer Jim Broadbent in a regular role.

Sheeran won't be the first British musician to appear on Games of Thrones - Coldplay‘s Will Champion and Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol have also landed cameo appearances in the past.

Season seven of Game of Thrones will premiere this summer (Jul17).

The news of Ed's casting comes during a very successful weekend for the singer, whose new album Divide has shot to the top of the U.K. and U.S. charts with the biggest first week sales of the year so far.

The album has also notched up the biggest first week sales for any male artist in the U.K. - only Adele and Oasis have albums that have sold more in seven days.

Sheeran is also enjoying massive singles success in the U.K. - nine of the top 10 are his songs from Divide.