Richard Ashcroft feels like he’s ‘married’ to Chris Martin after the pair’s duet at Live 8.

The Coldplay singer called the former Verve frontman “the best singer in the world” at the global event last summer – and Ashcroft has found the accolade a mixed blessing.

He says, “It’s a gift and a curse. It’s a gift to be given an opportunity to communicate to billions of people. The curse comes when, for the rest of your life, you’re going to be talking about it.”

Now Ashcroft feels as close to Martin - who he is about to tour America with - as man and wife.

He laughs, “I did say to him on the day, ‘Do you realise how linked we are now? Do you understand the nature of this? I hope you’re comfortable because you might as well be married to me.’”