Radio Exe has written to Ed Sheeran saying it has a cheque for £30 to give him.
The money is designed to cover the losses he made when playing a gig in the city some years ago – and has been invited to perform at the 2017 Devon Performance Awards at the city council owned Exeter Corn Exchange.
Ed said yesterday that Exeter was the worst gig he’d ever done, to which no one came and he had to sleep on a bench at a “little station with 57 stops back to London.” It cost him £80 in travel and he got paid £50.
Now Radio Exe and Exeter City Council’s portfolio holder for culture and tourism have guaranteed Mr Sheeran an audience if he plays there again. The details are contained in an open letter that Radio Exe has sent to Mr Sheeran, accompanied by a cheque for £30 to cover his past losses.
Radio Exe’s managing director Paul Nero told RadioToday: “We’re sorry that Mr Sheeran was so disappointed with the reception he received last time he came, but we wouldn’t want that to colour his perception of Exeter forever. So we’ve offered to pay his full fee of £80 to play at the Devon Performance Awards, sponsored by Stephens Scown, in October. We’ll even drop him at the station in time so he doesn’ have to sleep on a bench. And be assured: this is a genuine offer. Radio Exe with the support of Exeter City Council would be delighted to host Mr Sheeran in Exeter. We’re sure he’ll find the experience more agreeable this time round.”
