Ed Sheeran and 9 other TV cameos by musicians

Ed Sheeran wasn’t the only one who lived out his dream by guest starring in the season seven premiere of Game of Thrones this week.

Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, is apparently a Sheeran megafan. According to producer David Benioff, they had been trying to surprise her “for years” with a Sheeran cameo.

The 26-year-old Shape of You singer took to Instagram to post a behind-the-scenes snap of himself with Williams and director Jeremy Podeswa. He captioned another photo of himself in full armour: “Throwback to the time I was a Lannister.” (Fellow GoT fan David Beckham liked the photo.)

Next up for the English pop star: an appearance on The Simpson’s 29th season, which begins in October.

But first, Gulf News tabloid! rounds up nine other memorable musician guest spots on TV.

Pete Wentz/Fall Out Boy – One Tree Hill

In season three of the teen drama One Tree Hill, Fall Out Boy perform at local nightclub Tric. When Peyton Sawyer is injured during a school shooting, Wentz rocks up to a cabin in the woods to spend time with her and her friends. The pair date for a few episodes before the relationship tragically fizzles out.

Prince – New Girl

Prince flexed his comedic muscles on one of his favourite shows, New Girl, in 2014. He also played matchmaker at his own request. “He said, ‘I want to be involved in the show in a real way and I want to help Nick and Jess with their relationship,’” executive producer Dave Finkel told E! News.

Britney Spears – Jane the Virgin

Britney Spears is a hyperbolic version of herself on Jane the Virgin. She’s mortal frenemies with Jane’s father, Rogelio De La Vega, a self-obsessed telenovela actor. The two divas spend most of their time feuding, but when they’re on good terms, Rogelio just calls her ‘Brit’.

Ashanti – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Ashanti got to step out of her comfort zone and play a demon on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The R’n’B singer was cast as Lissa, who lured an oblivious Xander with her charms before attempting to use him in a sacrificial ritual. As always, Buffy saved the day and finished Lissa off.

Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

In one of the most meme-worthy TV cameos of all time, a young, mop-haired Justin Bieber played serial killer Jason McCann, who was shot by police. The Bieb’s fellow pop star Taylor Swift also died on CSI, but in a different episode: she played Haley Jones, a murder victim stabbed with a pair of scissors.

P. Diddy on CSI: Miami

Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs wasn’t going to be pigeonholed when he starred on CSI: Miami. The singer and record producer said he wouldn’t play a musician or a criminal but wanted to be a lawyer. He was cast as Derek Powell, an attorney whose fiancee was murdered during a yacht heist.

Katy Perry – How I Met Your Mother

Katy Perry played naive and ditzy Honey, whose actual name Ted couldn’t remember. She went on a blind date with Ted but somehow ended up with Barney.

One Direction – iCarly

iCarly, a fictional Nickelodeon series about a girl who has her own internet show, featured One Direction as one of Carly’s guests. The band was supposed to perform on her show, when Harry Styles took a sip out of a contaminated water bottle and became gravely ill. (Perhaps the role that put him on Christopher Nolan’s radar for Dunkirk?)

Courtney Love – Empire

Rocker Courtney Love claims she got a guest spot on the musical drama series Empire by stalking showrunner Lee Daniel. Her character Elle was originally supposed to be an R’n’B singer, but according to Love, she was changed to a rock star when executive producer Timbaland realised Love couldn’t hit the right notes.