AND there was me thinking a few gongs in the loo were a true sign of the success of a pop star.

Not nowadays it seems.

No, the silverware of choice for the modern musician is in fact a Nando’s Black Card apparently.

Also known as a High Five card, it’s basically a passport to free chicken in return for the odd mention in interviews and rather painful posed photographs chomping on some hot Peri Peri.

Ed Sheeran has been quoted as saying: “I was given a High Five card – it gets me free meals and for five other people with me, so I’m very popular with my mates.

“But it does have to be renewed next year, so I guess if I’m not considered hot or a big celebrity the new card won’t be sent and I’ll just have to try to pass off the expired card.

“It’s kind of a mark of your career success to have one. Forget Grammy awards – it’s all about Nando’s.”

I’m assuming the singer songwriter’s tongue was firmly in his cheek when he made the comments, but I’m still rather baffled by it all.

Barely a week goes by when you don’t see one of JLS in a gossip magazine waddling out of a branch after getting their fill of poultry.

Tinchy Stryder and Pixie Lott are also said to sing for their suppers in a rather clever marketing device by the fast food chain.

Whatever happened to aspiring to win an Ivor Novello, headline Glastonbury or hit the number one spot?

That’s gone out of the window in Nando’s Nation it seems.

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