'I'm selling myself short': Ed Sheeran aims to outdo Adele... as he reveals his determination to prove to his father that he's not 'lazy' is his driving force 

By Rebecca Lawrence For Mailonline

Published: 18:46 EST, 1 February 2017 | Updated: 21:03 EST, 1 February 2017

Ed Sheeran has revealed that he wants to outsell Adele as she is his only competition. 

In a candid chat with GQ magazine, the 25-year-old singer claimed he would be 'selling himself short' if he didn't aspire to break her sales figures, as she's the only artist to have sold more records than him in the past 10 years. 

Adele's last album, 25, became the world's best-selling album of 2015 and has since sold more than 20 million copies. 

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Competition: Ed Sheeran has revealed that he wants to outsell Adele as she is his only competition. He claimed he would be 'selling himself short' if he didn't aspire to break her sales

In comparison, Ed's 2014 offering, x (multiply), sold two million copies within a year, although it was the most streamed album of the year. 

Whilst he reasoned that rivalling her success would be tough, he explained: 'If I don't set her as a benchmark then I'm selling myself short.'

The two-time BRIT and Grammy Award winner also revealed that his strive to do well comes from not wanting to disappoint his father. 

Tough act to follow: Adele's last album, 25, became the world's best-selling album of 2015 and has since sold more than 20 million copies

Ed, who is the youngest of two boys in a Catholic family, explained that he always watched his father hard at work, and was devastated to discover that he was seen as 'lazy' by his parents. 

Revealing that he hasn't taken a day off from working on his music since the age of 16, he explained: 'It comes from my dad thinking I was lazy and wanting to prove a point.' 

It hasn't been hard for Ed to continue working, however, as he always has an endless stream of energy. 

Hard working: Ed, who is the youngest of two boys, explained that he always watched his father hard at work, and was devastated to discover that he was seen as 'lazy' by his parents

Describing himself as a 'weird' kid, he revealed: 'I was never diagnosed but everyone is convinced I have ADD.' 

ADD - Attention deficit disorder - is a group of behavioural symptoms that include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

The NHS claim symptoms can be categorised into two types of behavioural problems: inattentiveness or hyperactivity and impulsiveness, with most sufferers having problems that fall into both these categories.

Always working: Ed has been keeping busy with the release of new singles Shape of You and Castle on the Hill, from his upcoming third album ÷ (divide)

Ed has been keeping busy with the release of new singles Shape of You and Castle on the Hill, from his upcoming third album ÷ (divide).

And in the music video for Shape Of You, the singer revealed he now has an extensive tattoo collection - more than 60.  

He has spent a painstaking 40 hours in the tattooist’s chair over the past 12 months.

The multi-platinum selling star, whose latest singles are currently sitting at numbers one and two in the charts, is set to officially unveil his incredible inkings when he goes on tour next month. 

Inked up: in the music video for Shape Of You, the singer revealed he now has an extensive tattoo collection - more than 60. He has spent a painstaking 40 hours in the tattooist’s chair

 

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