JAMES Blunt fans had an extra surprise when their hero was joined on stage by another superstar.

Ed Sheeran made an unexpected appearance alongside Blunt during his concert at the Brighton Centre on Saturday.

The Shape Of You singer grabbed his guitar and jumped on stage to perform a duet before dedicating a song to his friend.

Blunt was performing on his 46th birthday and his fellow artist did not let him forget it.

He whipped the excited audience into a frenzy with a rendition of Happy Birthday – and the thousands of fans joined in.

The pair co-wrote Blunt’s song Make Me Better and fans were thrilled to see them perform together.

Sheeran’s appearance was totally unexpected and, as he walked in, the audience erupted into wild applause.

But quiet fell over the crowd as the old friends gave an emotional rendition of the song, wowing fans with a series of breathtaking harmonies.

James Blunt was performing as part of his Once Upon A Mind tour, which is celebrating the release of his album of the same name.

The former serviceman won global fame after achieving chart success with his single You’re Beautiful in 2004.

He has since enjoyed a successful career, releasing six studio albums and selling more than 20 million records.

Sheeran, meanwhile, has become one of the world’s best-selling artists since bursting on to the scene with his single A Team in 2011.

He has sold more than 150 million records worldwide.

The 29-year-old achieved complete chart dominance in the UK after releasing his album Divide in 2017.

At one point he boasted 14 of the country’s top 15 songs.

Only Something Just Like This by Chainsmokers and Coldplay stopped him from claiming all of the top 14 spots.

The album itself was in the top ten Official Album Charts for more than a year.

Ed Sheeran and James Blunt have been friends for some time.

James Blunt fooled thousands with a made-up story about how the pair had partied with Princess Beatrice.

Ed Sheeran had an unexplained scar on his face and Blunt fabricated a tale about how Beatrice had injured him with a sword during a moment of revelry at a party.

Sheeran also worked with Blunt on his 2017 album The Afterlove and the two grew close in this time.

The Goodbye My Lover singer has since heaped praise on his friend’s songwriting talents.

He told The Telegraph “he is so open and dragged me into that space”.