Comic Relief has confirmed that the children Ed Sheeran reached out to on Comic Relief are now safe.

In a statement issued after the appeal show went out on Friday night, the organisation revealed that the British musician's efforts had saved their lives.

An emotional Ed was lauded with praise when he refused to leave the side of raped and abused Liberian street boys who he met on-camera, and instead pleaded to rehouse them for the night.

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Generous: Comic Relief has confirmed that Ed Sheeran has provided a safe home for the raped and abused Monrovian children he met while filming emotional scenes for the charity

The charity, which managed to raise £71,308,475 on Friday night to help people in poverty around the globe, released an update on Monrovian children JD and his friends saying that the act of kindness has since changed their lives.

A spokesperson tweeted: 'JD & his friends, who Ed Sheeran met, are now safe but many more children still live in danger. Help us help them.'

The 26-year-old musician met the young group during scenes filmed for Comic Relief and, after seeing a man try to abuse the boy as the film crew wrapped up, insisted he would not leave JD in the appalling conditions.

Confirmed: Comic Relief confirmed that Ed's act of kindness really has changed the boys' lives, after the show aired

Many Liberian children lost parents in the devastating Ebola outbreak which hit the West African country two years ago.

And after learning about JD's horrendous ordeal at the hands of men and older boys on the street, Ed insisted on ensuring the child was safe 'no matter what the cost'.

JD, who was surviving on the streets of Monrovia, nurtured both the simple dream of being able to go to school and the ambition to be President.

He harboured these dreams even though he was subsisting on just bread and water and sleeping rough.

On camera, Ed said: 'It really does not feel right leaving at all. I mean, the only thing you can do is help them, which we should.

'My natural instinct is to just put them in a car and just take them and just put them in a hotel until we can get them sorted.

Touching: Ed explained that as he had ceased filming the segment, a man had started to attack the boy, prompting Ed to return and personally arrange to look after the young child and his five friends

'Can we do that? Can I pay to put them in a house until we get them in a school?'

When questioned, the star added forcefully: 'It doesn't matter how much it costs can we just get him and his five mates in a house with an older person to look after them?'

He then added: 'I don't think we can go until that's sorted.'

'It doesn't matter how much it costs': The generous musician insisted the child was taken away from the older men

Traumatic: Ed wanted to make sure the kids were removed from the violent threat of the older boys, who he later reported would be known to rape them too

The star had earlier been reduced to tears after meeting Peaches, a young girl who lost her father to Ebola.

After sharing a number of songs, the 12-year-old girl was left weeping as she sang a song that reminded her of her father.

The moment made a lasting impression on Ed, who emotionally broke down following the exchange as he felt helpless in her grief.

Upset: The moment made a lasting impression on Ed, who emotionally broke down following the exchange as he felt helpless in her grief

Teary: He broke down in tears: 'The last thing I always wanted this trip to be was be a celebrity that comes to Africa and cries on TV

'The last thing I always wanted this trip to be was be a celebrity that comes to Africa and cries on TV,' he explained.

'I really wanted to come away saying everything is positive and everything is great and then I was just singing with that girl and she was all smiling and then she started crying.

Adding: 'He dad taught her how to sing and she got really choked up about it. I watch Comic Relief every single year and this is always what celebrities do. I think, "Is it really that bad?" And then I sort of turn up and... "Yes it is". That's just one girl out here, that's just one story and she's the one girl that came up to us.'

Happens to the best of us! Nervous Ed Sheeran forgot the lyrics of What Do I Know, his new song from the fastest selling album ÷ (Divide), when singing live on Comic Relief on Friday night

Ed did not pull off a perfect performance at Comic Relief, but - perhaps due to his generosity - no one cared.

The best selling musician didn't let the nerves get the best of him as he laughed off forgetting the lines to one of his own songs.

The Shape Of You hitmaker flashed a cheeky smile to the audience and confidently continued singing.

And later his fans took to Twitter to share their support for the singing sensation who pulled out all the stops for his performance last night and put a smile on everyone's lips.

Some of his admirers declared the slip-up made them fall in love with the talented artists and others confessed it was the 'cutest'.

One fan wrote: 'I think I just fel in love wit @edsheeran a little more after tat.' (sic)

Another user said: 'Ed Sheeran missing his own song lyrics on, laughing and carrying on.'

Another added: 'Ed Sheeran just f***** his lyrics up! Happens to the best of 'em! #ComicRelief.'

Supportive: Fans praised the singer after he recovered from his on air blunder on Friday night

Soldier: But the flame-haired singer laughed off his mistake and picked up the lyrics showing what a top performer he is



