It’s not every day you’re jogging along a London canal and find yourself face-to-face with a global music icon. That’s exactly what happened to one lucky runner when Ed Sheeran decided to turn a leisurely boat ride into an unforgettable concert experience.
Sheeran, known for his chart-topping hits and down-to-earth demeanor, was cruising along the canal while filming himself playing guitar. As he strummed his latest tune, a runner caught his eye, prompting a spontaneous serenade that has since gone viral.
Ed Sheeran serenades a runner on a London canal.
“Hi!” Sheeran called out, his friendly greeting captured on the Instagram video. With a playful grin, he asked the stunned runner, “Any requests?”
The runner, clearly starstruck by the unexpected encounter, managed to blurt out a request for Sheeran’s beloved ballad, “Tenerife Sea.”
Sheeran, ever the obliging performer, launched into the song, his soulful voice echoing along the water as the runner captured the magical moment on her phone.
Ed Sheeran grants the runner's request, performing "Tenerife Sea" live.
The impromptu performance came to an end as quickly as it began, with Sheeran bidding the runner farewell as she continued her jog, no doubt her head filled with the memory of this once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
Always eager to connect with his fans, Sheeran took to Instagram, sharing the video with his 48 million followers. He playfully captioned the post, “Was filming a video on the canal today, played a request. If anyone knows the runner lemme know so we can have their POV video for the lols.”
It didn’t take long for the internet sleuths to identify the lucky runner as a local Londoner named Nikki Atkins. Atkins, still reeling from the surreal experience, had already shared the video on her own Instagram account.
Nikki Atkins shares her perspective of the surprise encounter with Ed Sheeran.
“This was so unexpected and so so beautiful. Thank you, thank you,” Atkins gushed, clearly still in awe of the magical moment. She concluded her post with a sentiment many runners would echo, “This is why we run girls.”
This heartwarming encounter is a testament to Sheeran’s genuine connection with his fans and his willingness to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. It’s safe to say that both Sheeran and Atkins, along with everyone who has seen the video, will remember this canal-side concert for years to come.
