Two Eds better than one: Two Ed Sheerans seen in Berlin but real Ed stays away

Nico Eckl (R), lookalike of Ed Sheeran poses beside a wax figure of musician Ed Sheeran in the Madame Tussauds wax museum in Berlin, Germany, July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - Fans of British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran could not believe their eyes when they came to the unveiling of his wax figure in Berlin's Madame Tussauds and saw him - or at least what they believed to be him - emerging from a limousine.

The waxwork museum had Nico Eckl, Ed Sheeran's best-known lookalike, unveil the model of the chart-topping musician on Tuesday since the real Sheeran couldn't come due to concerts, the museum said.

"We had him drive up in a limousine and hoped that the fans would go berserk and that is exactly what happened," said Nina-Kristin Zerbe, the spokeswoman of Madame Tussauds.

Nico Eckl (R), lookalike of Ed Sheeran poses beside a wax figure of musician Ed Sheeran in the Madame Tussauds wax museum in Berlin, Germany, July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

"The people shouted, wanted pictures with him," Zerbe said.

Eckl, with sunglasses covering his eyes, posed for photographers and fans with the waxwork of Sheeran, which was dressed in a blue checked shirt and featured some of the singer's arms tattoos plus a guitar.

"A lot of expertise and love for details went into this. As you can see - the freckles. It is not that easy to put freckles on a person. Or to prick in the eye-lashes, the brows," Zerbe said.

Nico Eckl (R), lookalike of Ed Sheeran poses beside a wax figure of musician Ed Sheeran in the Madame Tussauds wax museum in Berlin, Germany, July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

London's Madame Tussauds last month unveiled a different model of Sheeran at Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium in London, where customers sip their drinks surrounded by felines.

Sheeran was named the world's best-selling artist of 2017 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) thanks to his album "Divide" and singles "Shape of You" and "Perfect."

"I saw Ed Sheeran ... actually I don't know if he is real or fake ... It's quite surprising, but it's OK, " said Riccardo di Stefano, an Italian fan.

A visitor takes a selfie of Nico Eckl (R), lookalike of Ed Sheeran, as he poses beside a wax figure of musician Ed Sheeran in the Madame Tussauds wax museum in Berlin, Germany, July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

(Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)