Gordon Smart shares hilarious blunder of time he branded then-unknown Ed Sheeran as having “no f***ing chance” of being a star

SCOTS broadcaster and podcast host Gordon Smart has shared the hilarious blunder of the time he branded a then-unknown Ed Sheeran as having “no f***ing chance” of becoming a star.

The 42-year-old admitted he has been left red-faced after sharing the tale on the latest episode of his Restless Natives podcast yesterday, which he co-hosts with fellow Scot Martin Compston.

Smart, from Kinross, Perth and Kinross told of how he was once invited to attend a gig in Putney, south London by a pal for his opinions on an up-and-coming musician he was looking to sign up.

However, Smart was left thoroughly unimpressed by the young Sheeran, putting his pal off the idea – but admits the same friend is “still f***ed off” about the missed chance to this day.

Video shows Smart retelling the tale to Compston with the caption on the screen reading: “Imagine letting this now global superstar slip through your fingers.”

He begins his story saying: “I remember being invited by a mate of mine who was an A&R [arts and repertoire] man who will remain nameless because he’s still really f***ed off about this.”

Smart appears red-faced as Compston looks on in curiosity.

Smart laughs as he says: “He phoned me up because we both loved our music and loved our bands and he said ‘Listen, there’s this young musician. Apparently, he’s really talented but I’m not so sure about it.

“‘I need a second opinion, can you come to the gig?’”

He continues: “I was like ‘Aye, no problem.’ So, we went to the Half Moon in Putney – and they always put on brilliant gigs at the Half Moon.”

Compston nods in agreement as Smart continues.

“And we’ve gone in and this kid walks out and he had three-quarter-length Burberry shorts, a short-sleeved Burberry shirt and a small acoustic guitar, mop of red hair, and he comes out – starts playing it.

“And he looked at the A&R–”

Compston then interjects with a joking guess that the artist on stage was Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall, 62, causing the pair to burst out laughing.

Smart then says jokingly: “No, [I’m] not that old you p***k.

“The A&R guy’s looked at me with his pint and I was like ‘There’s absolutely no f***ing chance that guy is going to be a star.’”

The pair burst into fits of laughter again as Compston simply retorts: “You d**k!”

The Half Moon pub in Putney has hosted live music every night since 1963, and has seen a wide array of now-superstars perform such as Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, The Who and Kate Bush.