Wagga radio announcers almost hung up on singer Ed Sheeran when he called the station to surprise them.

Hit93.1 Riverina’s breakfast announcers Whitto and Ash thought they were hosting a competition to find the second best Ed Sheeran.

Little did they know their boss had arranged for the real Sheeran to call them.

“We had no idea,” Whitto said.

Ash thought the first entrant did an acceptable impression of the singer but was ready to take another call to see what other talent was out there.

“It took me a long time to realise it was Ed,” she said.

“I was going to ditch him.”

Whitto caught on a little earlier than Ash, thinking the caller’s impression was just so accurate it had to be the real Ed.

Ash said she thought it was bizarre the office had stopped what they were doing to watch the pair on air.

It was not until Sheeran questioned them with “you do know it is actually me?” that Ash realised what was happening.

Sheeran seemed to be taken back when the radio presenters were not convinced of his legitimacy but was ecstatic when they finally realised it was him.

“There’s the surprise we were looking for,” he said.