To Be Blunt ... Me? Cool? Don't Be A Fool!

James is singing a new tune.

- Adrian Deevoy

When we catch up with James Blunt, he’s just about to embark on a three-month tour of North America supporting Ed Sheeran. “It’s going to be three months of pretty much nonstop fun,” the singer grins. “I can’t wait.”

The two musicians are best of mates, but there’s a competitive nature to their friendship. When Woman’s Day mentions how Ed, 26, recently played the headline slot at the Glastonbury music festival, James, 43, attempts to one-up his young buddy.

“I’ve played there three times now – and I’ve camped each time,” grins the former soldier. “I’m an excellent camper. Come on, it was my job. Creeping around in bushes is something I excel at. Glastonbury is essentially what the army equipped me for.

“The first time I played there, I was standing naked at a tap, trying to wash the mud off myself before I climbed on to a stage at something like 11am. No-one knew who I was – just another weirdo Glastonbury victim. I played twice on the main stage and I’ve always said it was the best live experience I have ever had, so a small part of me envies Ed. It’s very exciting.”

With grudging admiration for his friend, James adds, “He’s a good man. He can turn his hand to almost anything.”

The pair were introduced by Sir Elton John, who signed both artists to his Rocket Music management company, and became firm friends. Their interests include skiing, collaborative songwriting and drinking. The tour, James promises, is going to be a hard-core hoot.

“But I know my place,” he concedes. “I’m lucky to be a support act to the biggest male solo artist of this decade. It’ll be a thrill to step out in front of his audience and inflict my songs upon them.”