‘I’ll disappear’: Ed Sheeran had some sad news for his fans today

First One Direction, then Taylor Swift and now Ed Sheeran… seems like the pop stars of the world have been plotting to make 2016 their most chilled out year yet.

Ed revealed today that he plans to take a break for at least nine months next year, after a packed ten months of touring the globe.

The singer flew out to Australia in March just days after splitting up with his then-girlfriend Athina Andrelos, and has barely had a day off since.

So it's no surprise that he hopes to clear his schedule for a large chunk of 2016 and simply take some time restoring "normality" in his life.

"I think a break for me is coming off my phone, social media and emails," he told The Sun.

"I am constantly on my phone, texting, replying to emails, on Twitter, on Snapchat, on Facebook."

Ed is generally quite open on social media, and says he simply plans to tell his followers and fans that he needs some time off.

"I'll put a post out saying, 'I'm with friends and family – if you love me you'll allow me to disappear for a few months and I'll speak to you in a bit.'"

"I just want to get off it [social media] and live and drive to places and listen to music and have normal conversations with people and get back to normality."

The singer is currently finishing up the UK leg of his X World Tour, before heading back to Australia and New Zealand to round things off with five final gigs.

"I've got a packed schedule, then, when December 12 comes, it's done," he said.