Ed Sheeran: "BRIT Awards Nominees Are All Good Friends"

16 January 2012, 19:59 | Updated: 31 January 2012, 17:53

The 'A Team' singer says he is glad artists like himself and Jessie J are gaining recognition at the same time as each other.

Ed Sheeran says there is "no jealousy" between any of the British artists nominated at next month's BRIT Award 2012.

The 'Lego House' singer says he has been good friends with several of the nominees for some time and is just happy they are all starting to get recognition in the music industry.

"I've known Jessie for a couple of years," Ed revealed to The Sun this week. "We did a gig together about a year and a half ago, at a place in Brick Lane in east London, to about 50 people.

"For us to be frontrunners at The Brits is amazing. It's been nice to be on that rise with her.

"There is no jealousy between British artists," Ed continued. "We are all good friends.

"I lived with Rizzle Kicks for a while and Emeli Sande supported me. I have history with pretty much everyone nominated."

The 20 year-old singer-songwriter has been nominated for British Breakthrough, British Male, Best Album and Best Song for 'The A Team' at this year's BRITs.

Ed Sheeran and Jessie J have both revealed this week that they are planning to record a duet at some point this year.

Voting for all of the categories at this year's BRIT Awards has now opened, including the British Single award, which is voted for by listeners of Capital FM.

Each listener who casts a vote for British Single will be entered into a competition to win a pair of tickets to this year's ceremony.

Find out more details, including the latest news, photos and interviews, about this year's ceremony, as well as a round-up of all the nominees, in our BRIT Awards area.

The ceremony for this year's BRIT Awards will take place at London's O2 Arena on 21^st February.