Ed Sheeran has confirmed he has split form Athina Andrelos

When asked he is dating anyone on Australian breakfast radio show 'The Kyle and Jackie O Show' on KIIS 1065, he said: "I wasn't single, I was in a relationship for a long time."

When DJ Kyle Sandilands pressed him on the subject and asked if he's single now, the flame-haired star replied: "Yes."

Following the confession, Ed - who started dating Athina last year - appeared surprised that he'd been asked the question.

Kyle's co-host Jackie O then said: "He looks like he's about to start crying - you shouldn't have asked that."

Ed added: "Erm … well that's interesting, that's the first time I've spoken about that."

Kyle was then very apologetic for asking if he was single, insisting he didn't realise the couple had split - but Ed replied: "I didn't know you were going to ask."

The DJ redeemed himself by jokingly encouraging Ed to go out and "stab" everyone.

He said: "I didn't even have it written down, I just wondered. I looked at you and thought, 'He's nice. I wonder if he's with anyone?'

"If I was you, I'd be playing the field - I'd be stabbing everyone."

A shocked and slightly worried-looking Ed replied: "Stabbing everyone?"

Kyle said: "You know, getting around, like, 'How're you going?'"

Ed's split confirmation comes just days after reports emerged that he had agreed to take a break from his relationship with 23-year-old Athina following a row over his antics at a BRIT Awards after-party last month.

A source told heat magazine: "The final straw was at the after-party. It was a combination of Ed drinking too much and him being unable to deal with a girl that kept bothering them that night.

"The next day, when Athina drove Ed to the airport, they spoke about everything and decided to take a break because it was unfair on both of them.

"It wasn't to do with his fame, it's just how he'd deal with other people - girls - wanting to talk to him on nights out."