'I've got the song ready': Ed Sheeran reveals he wrote the lyrics for James Bond theme song THREE years ago despite not being offered the job... as he admits he did the same before collaborating with Eminem

By Lily Waddell For Mailonline

Published: 09:47 GMT, 18 December 2017 | Updated: 11:32 GMT, 18 December 2017

A handful of singers from the great and the good of the music industry have had the honour to write the 007 theme song over the past five decades.

But while he is yet to be chosen, Ed Sheeran admits he wrote the lyrics for a James Bond soundtrack three years ago to ensure he is prepared should he ever be called upon to write one.

The songwriter, who topped the charts with his third album Divide, insisted the song he has in the pipeline for Bond was 'good' but he remained coy on the title of the track in case someone was tempted to 'steal it'. 

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'I've got the song ready': Ed Sheeran confessed he wrote the lyrics for the James Bond theme song three years ago to ensure he is prepared if he is ever called upon to write it when he appeared on The Late Late Show on Friday (pictured at The Voice Final in Germany, December 2017)

'I've got the song ready': Ed Sheeran confessed he wrote the lyrics for the James Bond theme song three years ago to ensure he is prepared if he is ever called upon to write it when he appeared on The Late Late Show on Friday (pictured at The Voice Final in Germany, December 2017)

Talking to The Late Late Show on Friday, The Shape Of You hitmaker, 26, said: 'I've had a theme tune written for about three years, just in case. Just in case!  

'It's good. It's good. I kept it. I just recently did a song with one of my all-time heroes Eminem and when we did a song together I'd already had the song planned because I was like "If I ever work with Eminem, I've got this song" so it's the same for Bond. 

'If ever I'm called, I'll be like "there you go".'  

It's an honour: A handful of singers from the great and the good of the music industry have had the honour to write the 007 theme song for the past five decades (pictured: Daniel Craig in 2012's Skyfall)

It's an honour: A handful of singers from the great and the good of the music industry have had the honour to write the 007 theme song for the past five decades (pictured: Daniel Craig in 2012's Skyfall)

Ed's Eminem collaboration, titled River, is going up against the chart topper's track Perfect, featuring Beyonce, for the enviable Christmas Number 1 spot.

His confession comes after Daniel Craig dropped the bombshell he will be returning to the 007 franchise for his fifth movie, despite previous claims he would rather 'slit his wrists'.

Stephen Colbert asked the hunky actor whether he would be reprising the role on The Late Show in August 2017 to which Daniel simply responded: 'Yes.'

Future planning: The Shape Of You hitmaker, 26, did the exact same thing when he collaborated with Eminem (pictured in July 2015, New York City) for their latest single River which he revealed he had already planned before the pair agreed to work together

Future planning: The Shape Of You hitmaker, 26, did the exact same thing when he collaborated with Eminem (pictured in July 2015, New York City) for their latest single River which he revealed he had already planned before the pair agreed to work together

He added: 'I have been quite cagey about it. I have been doing interviews all day and people have been asking me and I think I've been rather coy.

'But kind of felt like if I was going to speak the truth I should speak the truth to you.'

While Bond 25 has been confirmed as the title for the upcoming movie, details of the plot as well as the singer and songwriter is yet to be unveiled.

'It's good. It's good': The singer, who topped the charts with his third album Divide, insisted the song he has in the pipeline for Bond was 'good' (pictured in Germany, December 2017)

'It's good. It's good': The singer, who topped the charts with his third album Divide, insisted the song he has in the pipeline for Bond was 'good' (pictured in Germany, December 2017)

Competing with Ed, Paloma Faith also has expressed an interest in writing the next song when she appeared on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show in December.

She said: 'I feel like I'm built for it. I actually worked with Shirley Bassey, and she said to me, "Darling, you're the new me!" There's no more praise than that.'

Welsh songstress Shirley is renowned for performing the most 007 theme songs including 1964's Goldfinger, 1971's Diamonds Are Forever and 1979's Moonraker.

Sam Smith, who wrote the song for the most recent flick Spectre in 2015, boasted it only took him 20 minutes to write his track Writing On The Wall.

Meanwhile, Adele scooped the Oscar for Original Song in the 2013 ceremony for the 2012 film Skyfall.

Keeping it private: But the songwriter remained coy on the title of the track incase someone was tempted to 'steal it' (pictured in Germany, December 2017)

Keeping it private: But the songwriter remained coy on the title of the track incase someone was tempted to 'steal it' (pictured in Germany, December 2017)

Top man: The dapper red-head is competing against himself for the Christmas number 1 spot with his collaboration with Eminem on River and his collaboration with Beyonce for Perfect

Top man: The dapper red-head is competing against himself for the Christmas number 1 spot with his collaboration with Eminem on River and his collaboration with Beyonce for Perfect

Revealed: The Castle On The Hill hitmaker has scooped a number of awards for his sensational tracks including Thinking Out Loud (pictured in Germany, December 2017)

Revealed: The Castle On The Hill hitmaker has scooped a number of awards for his sensational tracks including Thinking Out Loud (pictured in Germany, December 2017)

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