Ed Sheeran cast in blood-soaked US drama The Bastard Executioner

Ed Sheeran is set to swap sell-out stadiums for the small screen. The 24-year-old Thinking Out Loud singer has been cast in his first regular TV role. 

Sheeran, who made a cameo appearance in an episode of Home and Away earlier this year, is poised to play an “ambitious and deadly” part in upcoming FX series The Bastard Executioner. 

The singer-songwriter will join the likes of True Blood’s Stephen Moyer and Sons of Anarchy’s Katey Sagal, playing Sir Cormac, who The Hollywood Reporter describes as “an ambitious and deadly protégé of a high-ranking church elder.”

The Bastard Executioner, which is currently filming in the UK, tells the story of a 14th century warrior whose life is forever changed when a divine messenger calls upon him to become a journeying executioner. 

Showrunner Kurt Sutter confirmed Sheeran’s casting news on Twitter, saying “It’s official… So excited to have my mate, Ed, join our bloody little adventure.”

So excited to have my mate, Ed, join our bloody little adventure.
"Legend!"#TBX http://t.co/fYs8rndY9S via @thr

— kurt sutter (@sutterink) July 27, 2015

Ambitious. Deadly. @edsheeran is officially part of The Bastard Executioner’s A-team. http://t.co/ug0HVdF6dV via @THR #TBX

— Bastard Executioner (@TheBastardEx) July 27, 2015

Sutter and Sheeran became friends after the former admitted to being a fan of Sutter’s previous show Sons of Anarchy. After chatting on Twitter, Sheeran recorded a cover of Foy Vance’s Make It Rain for the series’ penultimate episode.

The Bastard Executioner will air on FX later this year

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