Ed Sheeran kept the peace between Harry Styles and Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.

After the '22' hitmaker appeared to badmouth the One Direction heart throb when the band were on stage at the ceremony on Sunday (25.08.13), the former couple were seen together - along with Ed and party promoter DJ Spiky Phil - and it is said their meeting wasn't easy for anyone involved.

Taylor, 23, was seen on screen seemingly mouthing ''shut the f**k up'' as the 'Best Song Ever' quintet were presenting an award and according to Us Magazine, things were ''super awkward'' later in the evening with the 'Lego House' singer stuck in the middle.

An insider also said: ''Ed made sure to keep them separate.''

It is reported that the neutral role is one he has to adopt quite often when it comes to his mutual friends, who split in January after a three-month romance.

Harry's band mates have leaped to his defence after Taylor also appeared to dedicate her own Best Female Video trophy - for 'I Knew You Were Trouble' - to her ex-boyfriend, whom she has admitted she wrote the song about.

Liam Payne previously said: ''I just thought it was a bit not needed. I mean, you just won an award, it's like, concentrate on yourself ... Hashtag get over it.''