Mr Cowell, 66, broke his back in an electric bike accident in 2020 and has since undergone several operations, including a recent “routine” procedure last month.

While he rests, a guest judge will join Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI for the Blackpool auditions.

Simon Cowell “gutted” to be missing filming for Britain’s Got Talent

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Simon is of course gutted to be missing the auditions, but it’s important that he rests up now so he can make a full recovery.

“It was a routine op that went well and he knows the team will find a fun guest judge to spice up filming and keep the audience on their toes.

“The current thinking is that producers will choose a male comedian to stand in for now, but decisions are being made currently.

“It’s quite last-minute, so a lot of talent is already booked up for that period.”

Production company Fremantle is expected to postpone around half of the six-day filming schedule until January to allow Mr Cowell to return as head judge.

The media mogul has spoken openly about how the accident changed his perspective on life and health.

He told The Sun newspaper: “I was so close to living the rest of my life in a wheelchair, it gives you a completely different outlook on life.”

Despite the pain, Mr Cowell described the accident as a turning point.

He said: “If I had to go through this all over again I actually would do it, because I think breaking my back was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

“I didn’t know really how unfit I was until I had to start doing all the exercises.

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“But I feel better today than I did three years ago when it happened.”

Since the accident, Mr Cowell has lost three stone through changes to his diet, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption.

Who would you like to see stand in for Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent? Let us know in the comments. 

The village is only home to around 700 people – but it’s right next to one of Cambridgeshire’s most dangerous roads

Locals who live in a small village next to a notoriously dangerous road say the area is used as a “cut through”. Guyhirn is a small village in Cambridgeshire that’s only home to around 700 people.

While the River Nene divides the village from this road, Guyhirn is situated very close to the A47. Some residents in Guyhirn have said they are “wary” of the road, which is the only main route that connects the village to other places such as Wisbech.

Rebecca Parsons, who’s lived in Guyhirn for 20 years, said the A47 is a “nightmare” especially when there is a crash on the road. She added: “If they ever close it, all of the A47 comes through Guyhirn. They’ve [cars] churned up all the grass down [this road]. And it can be noisy, especially if they’re doing the roadworks all of the time.”

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the village is used as a “cut through” for the A47. He said: “The A47 makes Guyhirn a very noisy place. Depsite there being a hill and river in between us and the road, you still manage to hear everything. I use the road a lot, but that’s because it’s the only main road out of here.”

The resident said he understands why the road has such a “bad reputation”, adding: “There are a lot of accidents that happen on it. They need to majorly improve it because, I think it’s one of the worst roads in Cambridgeshire.”

Richie King also uses the A47 frequently and said he sees “silly people” using it. He added: “Living here [in Guyhirn], you get a bit of disturbance from the A47. If it’s not the constant noise of people speeding through here, then it’s emergency services on the A47 itself.

“The traffic can pile up through here sometimes as well. The village itself doesn’t have a lot of trouble, but the road is our main problem.”

Ms Withers, who wished to not include her first name, said that despite there being “no alternative” road out of Guyhirn, she is “very wary” of using the A47. She added: “There are too many idiot drivers that use it.

“It impacts our village if anything happens on it. A lot of traffic comes through it and then it causes more disruption. Drivers also come speeding through here, so it’s unsafe at times.”

Speaking about the A47, a National Highways spokesperson said: “Our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads and we continue to invest in safety improvements across the region. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we work closely with partners, organisations and road users to help us collectively achieve this ambition.

A millionaire ex-banker who has branded other proposed developments in Sandbanks ‘Barratt boxes on steroids’ has gained permission to build his dream home.

Simon Bowden, 66, fought for almost 30 years to build a new five-bedroom property on his £820,000 plot which he bought in 1998.

It sits within the highly desirable part of Poole, Dorset, that is home to numerous well-known figures including former Portsmouth and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.

Bowden planned to turn a 90ft-long 1920s wooden boathouse, which had been converted into a residential home, into his dream home.

But he fell foul of planning regulations and local rules when builders knocked down about 90% of the structure rather than refurbishing it.

This meant the work broke rules, introduced in the 1990s, which prevented new properties being built within 82ft of the waterfront.

Since the 1920s boathouse was converted before these rules applied, it had an exemption.

There was also a successful planning application in 1977 to extend the property.

However, the exemption no longer applied as the building was largely demolished, prompting the council to halt the work.

A 28-year planning dispute followed, during which time more than 20 applications were submitted, some of which were approved.

The latest successful application grants permission to build a three-storey, five-bedroom house further back from the seafront on the site.

The L-shaped property will have an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, an outdoor swimming pool and a sea-facing balcony overlooking Brownsea Island, where Lord Baden-Powell staged the first Scout camp, according to the Daily Mail.

Its garden will run down to Poole Harbour and include a jetty offering direct access to the water, the publication said.

The flat-roofed home has been designed to fit among more than 50 trees on the site which are protected under a preservation order.

Planning documents stated: ‘The design approach adopted and careful siting amongst the mature landscape will ensure that the dwelling is viewed as a positive addition which sits comfortably within its context.’

Bowden’s agent said only glimpses of the house will be visible from the road and it will sit entirely outside the part of the plot identified as being at high risk of flooding.

Bowden described it as an ‘architecturally distinctive house which will add to the visual interest’ of the conservation area.

While the planning saga rolled on, Bowden criticised other proposed developments in the area, which has been dubbed Britain’s Palm Beach.

In one comment, he accused wealthy newcomers of replacing historic properties with ‘ugly houses’ and described one project as ‘visual barbarism’.

He recently objected to plans to demolish a 115-year-old Arts and Crafts home called Cama in Sandbanks and replace it with a sleek, modern home.

Bowden said: ‘Replacing such a historic house is a great shame, especially as the replacement dwelling is a very poor pastiche of Arts and Crafts, but sadly typical of the new style of Sandbanks Barratt boxes on steroids.

‘It has absolutely zero architectural merit.’

Referring to letters supporting that application, he added: ‘I see there were many letters of support, all from people who are recent migrants to Sandbanks and who also live in ugly houses.

‘When it’s gone few will remember the quality architecture on Sandbanks.

‘No doubt this will get approved, but the effect on Sandbanks of these fake houses is highly negative.’

Mr Bowden declined to comment about his own development when contacted by the Daily Mail.

Metro has contacted him for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Chad Gilbert, the lead guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band New Found Glory, has died at 45.

Gilbert’s former bandmates announced in an Instagram post on Sunday that he had died earlier that morning.

‘On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep,’ they wrote. ‘He left this world surrounded by friends and family and took his final breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished.’

‘We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went,’ the post continued. ‘The amount of visitors that crowded the hospital lobby at a moment’s notice is a testament to how beloved and cherished Chad was, and always will be.

‘He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. His biggest dreams came true.’

The somber announcement – which was credited to Gilbert’s widow Lisa Cimorelli and his bandmates Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Cyrus Bolooki and current touring guitarist Dan O’Connor – comes just three months after Gilbert made a tearful return to the stage following surgery to remove three brain tumors.

Gilbert’s wife Lisa Cimorelli and his New Found Glory bandmates announced on Instagram that he had died earlier on Sunday after battling cancer for years

The post noted that Gilbert is ‘survived by his wife Lisa, his daughter, Lily, his mother, Jackie, and his brother, Brian.’

Gilbert’s band members and wife credited his ‘guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive’ for shaping ‘New Found Glory for nearly three decades.’ 

‘Through more than a dozen albums, endless tours around the world, and more accolades than we ever could have imagined, Chad challenged all of us to grow as musicians, performers, and human beings,’ they wrote.

‘While we are devastated to lose him, we are so grateful for the incredible life he lived, the memories we shared, and the brotherhood we had,’ they continued. ‘His influence will always be part of New Found Glory and his spirit will be felt on every stage we stand on, with every note we play.’

They concluded by adding: ‘Rest in peace, Chad. We love you forever ❤️.’

Back in June of this year, Gilbert was left fighting back tears as he returned to the stage in a wheelchair for his first show in Nashville amid his battle with a rare adrenal cancer.

The rocker shared he was left ‘struggling to control’ the movements of his left hand during a gig in Nashville on February 20. 

He was then rushed to hospital by medics three days later when he began stumbling and falling. 

Gilbert’s band members and wife credited his ‘guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive’ for shaping ‘New Found Glory for nearly three decades’; Original New Found Glory members (L–R) Steve Klein, Gilbert, Cyrus Bolooki, Jordan Pundik and Ian Grushka

Gilbert revealed four years ago that he had been diagnosed with a rare adrenal gland cancer called pheochromocytoma.

During his return show in June, the star became emotional as he gave a special shout-out to the medical professionals who had treated him since he was diagnosed.

 ‘I want to thank all of the nurses and doctors who have kept me alive for the past four years,’ he said.

In an ornate room tucked away in the Houses of Parliament, experts called for a safer sleep national campaign to combat the ‘dangers’ of unsafe advice online and in nurseries.

At the front of the room, a family who knew all too well of the importance of safe sleep practices watched on. For Katie Wheeler and John Meehan, their traumatic loss of their daughter Genevieve at the hands of her nursery worker served as a reminder for why safe sleep practice was more important than ever.

Genevieve ‘Gigi’ Meehan was killed at Tiny Toes Children’s Day Nursery in May 2022 after she was strapped face down onto a beanbag and left unsupervised for 90 minutes by her nursery worker, Kate Roughley.

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Roughley was jailed for 14 years in May 2024 for causing her unlawful death. A pre-inquest review into Genevieve’s death has been set for October 8 this year.

Her parents, John Meehan and Katie Wheeler have since launched the Campaign for Gigi to improve safety standards in nursery settings.

In it, they are calling for compulsory CCTV in nursery settings; unannounced Ofsted inspections to be routine in early years settings; review of CCTV footage in Ofsted inspections; clear, statutory safe sleep guidance for early years settings; mandatory safe sleep training for all nursery staff and Ofsted inspectors; and clear statutory guidance as to the use of sleep products in early years settings.

The campaign, which can be found here, is urging people to get in touch with their local MP to ask them for their support.

On Monday afternoon, September 14, a host of experts across the field discussed the current state of safer sleep awareness and what was needed to moving forward to protect children and families.

Chairing the roundtable, Tom Morrison, MP for Cheadle said: “Safe sleep is one of the most important topics in public health messaging. It was, for me, as the father of a 19-month old, one of the conversations drilled into us as we were going through the antenatal classes. Sadly, as we have heard far too many times, that guidance has not been followed. It is from these conversations we can talk about how we make sure that guidance is enforced.”

Addressing the room, John began by speaking about one of his favourite days with his daughter. “It was a wonderful day and one of my favourite memories, we went to Lyme Park. We used to describe them as ‘daddy days’, when it was my responsibility for the clothes, the snacks, and everything in between.

“It would usually mean the clothes didn’t match, dishevelled hair and Genevieve being mischievous. It was a beautiful day and I think about it a lot. For Gigi it was a day full of wonder looking at the animals and the surroundings. I didn’t know at the time it would be one of the last days I got to take Gigi somewhere.

“Like most parents, Katie and I assumed the regulated environments would follow the safe sleep guidance – we were fanatical about it at home. We assumed it would be the same in a practical environment.

“After Gigi’s death, we couldn’t help but ask ‘how?’ How did this happen? How is it that safe sleep guidance is not being following in a nursery? How is it that children can go to nursery safely and not come home?”

Katie spoke of the changes they have already made to the sector, which include; the implementation of safer sleep regulations; the increase in funding for Ofsted to allow for 3000 more no-notice inspections; an update to the Ofsted framework which coincides with the Early Years Foundation Stage changes; and the increase of the Ofsted inspections from six years to four years.

Referring to the handmade lavender bunches left for each attendee, she explained that due to Genevieve’s name, they associated her with being French. “We used to give her a French accent and every year we visit a different lavender field for her. Hopefully you take them away and think of the beautiful little girl who deserves to be here.”

Jenny Ward, CEO of the Lullaby Trust which is actively supporting the family, said: “The achievements they have made are absolutely huge – but there is still more to do. We are very fortunate to have had contact with the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, who has now changed jobs. We want to make sure everyone knows about safe sleep and that families are supported.”

Connor Rand, MP for Altrincham and Sale, spoke of the case of Madison Bruce-Smith, who was just four-months-old when she died after being put to sleep by a ‘maternity nurse’ despite having no qualifications. “Nobody had been held legally accountable for her death,” he said.

“Anyone can call themselves a nursery nurse and put a child’s life at risk. As Madison’s parents said, without regulation there has been more tragedy. There have been huge steps forward – hopefully we build on that and save more babies lives going forward.”

Professor Peter Fleming, who specialises in Infant Health and Developmental Physiology at the University of Bristol, and also contributes findings to the National Child Mortality Database, also attended at the roundtable.

He told the room that in the mid-1980s, it was recognised that the number of babies dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) had increased. Dr Fleming was just starting the Avon Cot Death Study when he read a Dutch report which suggested that putting babies to sleep on their fronts led to a high risk of SIDS. Fleming analysed the Avon data and found that 93 per cent of the babies who had died had been put to sleep lying on their fronts.

It wasn’t until a follow-up study in 1991 that Fleming felt confident to approach the Government’s health advisers with his findings. Following a high profile campaign by TV presenter Anne Diamond – who lost her own child through SIDS – the Government gave its official support to the study and launched the highly successful ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign.

Two decades ago, SIDS claimed the lives of 2,000 babies in the UK every year, however since the campaign that number has been reduced, and is currently around 200, Dr Fleming said,

“There was a huge effect, the message was getting through,” he said. “Now we have the issue of older people saying that they used to put their children down to sleep on their front and ‘our children were fine’. That’s true, but if everybody does it, then the risk is much greater.

“If everybody put their baby on their front, recent data suggests it will go from 200 babies per year to 5,000. Our position is that we want professionals to be aware.” He also said that the use of round the clock video surveillance is one of the inexpensive ways to make sure that the practice is followed.

Dr Anna Pease, who has worked for the last 16 years in Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy prevention said: “Parents are getting more of their information from many other sources now, including social media. Parents really want honesty, they want somebody to be straight forward with them.

“There is a problem of mixed messages, there’s a lot of images and nonsense online. People see a product has become available and it’s supposed to help your baby sleep, but it doesn’t mean it’s safe and actually tested for babies.”

Following a recent BBC investigation on dangerous advice given to parents, paediatrician Dr Lillie Parker and midwife Olivia Hinge said more had to be done to ‘call out’ those who use their platform to advice unsafe practises.

“Anybody who calls themselves a ‘sleep expert’ needs to be regulated, and they need to know what can happen when you give that advice,” said Dr Parker.

In response, Katie said: “Regulation is important for accountability. We were lucky that somebody went to prison, which does give you some sense of peace. That didn’t happen in Madison’s case, and it’s horrific for some families to not have that.”

Jamie Barnes, founder of Everything Early Years and an early years consultant added: “There are all different pieces of information online. People ask me for links all the time, and we all want to be doing the right thing. The public need to be given the right information.”

The roundtable discussed the idea of a 10-year strategy with improved and regulated training to avoid ‘sticking a plaster over the problem’, as part of a ‘renewal’ of the safer sleep campaign.

Concluding, Mr Morrison said: “All of this room are moving forward for the renewal of the safe sleep campaign, and using the growth of social media. I really want this to be the beginning of a discussion that goes forward.”

After the meeting, he added: “Today’s roundtable brought together an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and experience, from world-leading clinicians to the health visitors and paediatricians who see the impact of poor advice every day. But at the centre of it all were Katie and John, whose courage in turning their unimaginable grief into action has already changed national policy.

“We now need a new national safer sleep campaign, proper regulation of so-called sleep experts, and a guarantee that every single person who looks after children professionally has the guidance they need. No family should go through what Katie and John have.”

Emergency services arrived at the scene between Newgate Street and South Church Street on Sunday, September 20, following a crash between a car and a motorbike.

An individual has been rushed to hospital, a spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service confirmed.

Two ambulances were called to the scene, plus an air ambulance.

A member of the public told the Northern Echo that they spotted the air ambulance land in Morrisons car park.

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 4.45pm on Sunday 20 September to reports of a road traffic incident on South Church Road in Bishop Auckland.

“We dispatched two ambulance crews to the scene and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

“One patient was transported to James Cook University Hospital by air for further treatment.”

Newgate Street was closed for “quite some time” at the junction with Princess Street, with drivers asked to avoid the area.

At around 7pm, a spokesperson for Durham Police said: “Newgate Street is currently closed at the junction with Princes Street following a collision between a car and a motorbike.

“The road is likely to remain closed for some time while emergency services work at the scene.

“We’d ask that motorists avoid the area and find an alternative route.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a bruising electoral setback in two state elections on Sunday, including a historic defeat for his party to the anti-migrant AfD, but vowed to press ahead with potentially painful reforms.

Projections by public broadcaster ARD on Sunday night indicated that Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, came in with just 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania – the lowest result since World War II for the party in any state. 

The anti-migration, Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany Party, or AfD, made significant gains. The projections were based on exit polls and partial counting for ARD television.

Merz acknowledged his party’s result as a ‘disaster,’ but struck a defiant note, rejecting any retreat from his government’s reform agenda. 

He argued that Germany’s economic and political problems made difficult and potentially unpopular reforms more urgent, not less so, and pledged to press ahead.

‘What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness, and patience,’ Merz said in a statement shortly after the exit polls were announced on public television. 

‘I will demonstrate these qualities as chairman of the CDU and, above all, as chancellor of our country.’

In Berlin, projections showed the CDU was to come in second with 19.1%, behind the Left party at 25.3%, according to ARD.

Voters enter a polling station in Schwerin during regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Sunday 

Ulrich Siegmund, hard-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD)’s main candidate in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, gestures as he addresses supporters at the AfD’s election party following Saxony-Anhalt’s state elections in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, on September 6

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Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in the Charlottenburg district during state elections in Berlin, Germany on September 20, 2026

Merz’s authority was already damaged by CDU’s stinging defeat to AfD in the September 6 election in the small eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. 

That result shocked many Germans who had believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority after confronting the horrors of its Nazi past through education and laws to outlaw persecution.

On Sunday, AfD also made big gains in both states. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, it garnered 37.9% of the vote, and in Berlin it achieved 16.2%, according to ARD. But it was nowhere close to being able to form a regional government.

AfD’s national co-leader, Tino Chrupalla, told ZDF television that ‘the chancellor’s statement today really was more than feeble – he announced that he’d carry on as before, instead of finally drawing the consequences and resigning.’

However, in an apparent reference to the hard-Right party, Merz said that his government’s reforms would be ‘the antidote to the poison of authoritarianism, which is penetrating ever deeper into our society as the fascination with authoritarianism grows.’

The government’s reforms include cuts to income tax for low- and middle-income families, an overhaul of the creaking pension system and a reduction of Germany’s stifling bureaucracy.

Merz, 70, became Germany’s leader 16 months ago with promises to turn around an economy that has barely grown in years. But he has failed to lift a sullen national mood and become deeply unpopular.

The strong showing of AfD in the Saxony-Anhalt election, where it has the best chance yet of forming the country’s first hard-Right regional government since World War II, had further weakened the chancellor’s standing on the national level as well.

In the past two weeks, there had been calls, even from within his own party, for him to be replaced as chancellor, although no top-level allies have called publicly for his departure, and many warned against ‘personnel debates.’

Philipp Amthor, a prominent CDU figure from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania who now manages relations between the federal and state governments at the chancellery, said Sunday night that one problem in the campaign had been ‘the difficult personnel discussions’ of recent weeks – an apparent reference to the speculation about Merz.

‘It is good and right for these personnel discussions not to be continued now,’ he said.

Not many people will know this famous Cambridge building featured in the film

Hollywood has been knocking on Cambridge’s door for many years – and that’s no surprise with some iconic sights on offer in the city. The city has featured in some big blockbusters such as The Theory of Everything in 2014, following the life of scientist Sir Stephen Hawking.

Trinity College featured in 2015’s The Man Who Knew Infinity, and Cambridge has also featured in 2018’s Red Joan, starring Judi Dench. One popular film that people may not know Cambridge appears in is a Disney film starring Johnny Depp.

This is of course is the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean, where Depp plays the funny, yet clumsy Jack Sparrow. Part of the fourth instalment of the pirate franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, was filmed at the famous King’s College in Cambridge.

The Cambridge college is one of the most recognisable in the city, as it features in the famous Backs. Many people would have seen the college’s chapel while on a punting tour of Cambridge.

While On Strangers Tides was also filmed in Hawaii and California, filming took place in the United Kingdom for 106 days. King’s College portrayed 1750’s London in some scenes of the film. Sadly, it’s unknown if Depp actually visited Cambridge during filming.

Other UK locations featured in On Stranger Tides include Hampton Court Palace and the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

As well as Pirates of the Caribbean, King’s College has lit up the silver screen in other films. It played the part of St John’s College in Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, and the college chapel was in the 1981 Chariots of Fire.

Ed Sheeran says his family has ‘abandoned’ him and that he’s ‘found out who his friends are’ amid the Israel-Palestine controversy that has threatened his tour. 

The devastated British pop star, 35, has faced fierce backlash after Macklemore was dropped over his pro-Palestine views.

Macklemore was removed from Ed’s tour after US stadium owner Robert Kraft accused him of hate speech during previous support slots in which the rapper called for a ‘free Palestine‘. 

But Kraft, who is Jewish, banned him from performing at his Gillette Stadium near Boston, sparking an Israel-Palestine row that has left Sheeran feeling ‘abandoned’ by his family. 

The singer struggled to hold back tears on stage last night as he apologised to fans for his handling of the controversy that has threatened to wreck his tour.

He told fans in Philadelphia he wasn’t sure if upcoming dates would go ahead amid the backlash and threats of a boycott against the decision to drop opener Macklemore over the rapper’s support for Palestine.

Sheeran said he had ‘found out who his friends are’, adding: ‘I cannot hide how I feel… any more.’

The singer admitted to making ‘mistakes’ in his handling of the situation and backtracked on his previous vow not to bring politics to his show as he called the situation in Gaza ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’ and Hamas’s October 7 attacks ‘horrific’.

Ed Sheeran has made his stance clear on the Israel-Palestine conflict after his Loop Tour fell apart amid Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ comments

It comes as the concert was swarmed by pro-Palestine protestors before he took the stage

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In his first stage appearance since the Loop tour was plunged into turmoil, the 35-year-old father of two said he ‘never wanted to be an activist musician’ but the fierce criticism meant he has had to ‘take and make difficult decisions’.

He said: ‘I really didn’t know whether this tour would be carrying on. In these situations, you really find out who your friends are and it’s been a weird week. I just feel like it happened very quickly.

‘In the back of my mind, I saw the ticket sales for this gig and I didn’t see cancellations, I saw people buying tickets for this gig. 

‘Everyone’s telling me to cancel and I’m feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me.

‘I look at the end of the week and I see 50,000 people who haven’t abandoned me. People will say what they want, but I am doing this for you. I love you. I love this.’

Sheeran said his heart had been broken ‘by the scale of devastation and loss of lives’ and became emotional as he told a cheering crowd: ‘I’m so grateful you are here with me tonight.’

He apologised and became visibly emotional again at the end of the show for bringing politics to his concert – something he had vowed not to do.

Sheeran said at the end of the night: ‘The one thing that I would like to apologise for is the first bit of the show where it wasn’t about music and I had to talk.

Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday night for the first time since 43-year-old Macklemore, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was axed from the tour (pictured together in 2013) 

‘I understand that people have children here and I understand that families didn’t buy a ticket to hear that first bit of the show, but that was something I felt like I needed to say.’

Sheeran had previously said that ‘those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum’.

The gig at the Lincoln Financial Field marked the first time the star returned to the stage since the rapper Macklemore was dropped as his opening act after taking a vocal stance in favour of a ‘Free Palestine‘.

In a solemn speech at the start of the concert, Sheeran said: ‘I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity and not division, about humanity and not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.’

‘What happened in Israel at Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain.

‘What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,’ Sheeran said in a video captured and shared online by a concertgoer.

‘My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked,’ he declared.

Sheeran told the audience that he plans to ‘continue my current tour’ despite each of his openers dropping out in solidarity with Macklemore.

Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother, pulled out of his scheduled appearances in upcoming tour dates, stating that ‘artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed’

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Activists demanded freedom for Palestine as they gathered outside of Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night

By the end of the show, Sheeran broke down into tears, telling fans: ‘I’m so grateful. The world is a scary place right now. America is a scary place right now. This gives hope. This gives hope.’

The crowd broke out in applause as Sheeran appeared deeply moved.

‘My shows are about this,’ he said. ‘They are about people coming together that don’t know each other, that have different beliefs. They’re about unity. They’re about love. They’re about family.’

As fans cheered, Sheeran vowed that the controversy would not stop him from performing.

‘You’re jumping around like maniacs with each other and having fun,’ he said. ‘And I will never stop doing this. I will never stop doing this. I love doing this so much.’

It came after Macklemore said Sheeran had spoken to Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts through his holding company, the Kraft Group.

‘Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,’ he wrote.

On Tuesday, Sheeran released his own statement on Instagram, saying it wasn’t his decision to remove Macklemore from the tour, but rather the promoter’s.

‘I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living,’ the British singer-songwriter added.

Sheeran said in the lengthy statement that he has ‘personal views on this devastating conflict’, but made the choice ‘not to speak publicly’.

He has faced criticism from other artists, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who bashed him on social media for not taking a stand against the decision.

Ed Sheeran’s cousin last week branded the pop star a ‘coward’ for dropping pro-Palestine Macklemore.

Jethro Sheeran, who at 44 is nine years older than his cousin, responded to the row by saying he was ‘ashamed’ of his relative.

In a furious post on Facebook, he said: ‘Finally it’s all coming out! I’m ashamed of my cousin Ed and what he’s done.

‘Finally the world and all his fans see through him. He’s not a good person, I don’t like his music so I can’t say he’s even a good artist.’

Billie Eilish’s brother, Finneas, pulled out of his scheduled appearances in upcoming tour dates, stating that ‘artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed’.

Tour openers including Aaron Rowe and the band Lukas Graham, along with Sheeran’s long-time backing folk band Beoga, also withdrew from the endeavour.

In his address to fans on Saturday, Sheeran stated: ‘I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry.’

He said: ‘I don’t want to disappoint fans and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician. But this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech in the most complex political issue on the planet.’

The pop star continued: ‘Our concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me. Honouring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am and that is why I’m here tonight, on my own, and continuing my own tour.’

He went on to say: ‘I am deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approved content performance. This happens in so many places that I’ve gone around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.’