Ed Sheeran “started slipping” into substance abuse before he stepped back to take a break from the spotlight

He said: “I think you need to, when you get into the industry, adjust to it - and I didn’t adjust because I was constantly working on tour. All the pitfalls that people read about, I just found myself slipping into all of them. Mostly, like, substance abuse. I never touched anything. I started slipping into it, and that’s why I took a year off and buggered off.”

And Ed, 26, knew he needed to step back and take some time to work on himself when he realised the “fun” had stopped.

Speaking during an appearance on ‘The Jonathan Ross Show’ which airs on Saturday (21.10.17), Ed said: “It just started gradually happening. Some people took me to one side and were like, 'Calm yourself down’. It’s all fun to begin with, it all starts off as a party and then you’re doing it on your own and it’s not, so that was a wake-up call and taking a year off.”

Previously, the ‘Shape of You’ singer - who went travelling during his break - said his 12 month hiatus helped him find his "life balance again”.

He said: "I had as much time in the world as I needed to make a record. It was a nice safety blanket to have because I could really take my time with it. Whereas the previous two albums I've made on the road and tours. I did four months of travelling at first and six months living in my house in Suffolk making the record there.

"Finding my life balance again was the best. I hadn't really adjusted completely to my new lifestyle so having a year off to balance it all out was quite important. I learned to prioritise what's really important. I've got a strong group of mates and a wonderful girlfriend who I grew up with. I've got a house where I grew up. So I've kept my roots. It had all helped me to stay grounded."