‘Coronation Street’ newcomer Kel Allen once accidentally crashed Malcolm Hebden’s birthday celebrations.
The ‘Corrie’ actress, who stars as Laura Neelan, was preparing to enter the show’s green room for the first time, but it was the "worst timing ever" as the cast were waiting to wish Malcolm – who portrays Norris Cole – a happy 80th birthday.
She told Metro.co.uk: "I remember choosing my moment and going, ‘Just do it now.’
"I walked down through the dressing rooms into the green room. It was literally jam-packed with everyone facing me, all with their hands in the air all waiting.
"They obviously weren’t waiting for me.
"I remember thinking, ‘Oh gosh, this is the worst timing ever.’ Everyone was waiting for Malcolm who plays Norris to come in because it was his 80th birthday and they’d got him a surprise cake!
"I walked in when everyone was waiting for him to come in.
"But everyone was so lovely, really, really nice."
However, the ‘Corrie’ cast didn’t quite have it right as Malcolm told Kel it was in fact his 81st birthday.
She added: "I remember Malcolm saying to me: "I wouldn’t mind, it’s my 81st birthday, they’ve got the wrong year.’
"All fun and games, obviously."
‘Corrie’ legend Malcolm has played Norris on and off from 1994, but it wasn’t his first role in the soap.
The star expected to be able to use his own northern accent when he was interviewed for ‘Coronation Street’ – only to be cast as a Spanish character first time around, landing the role of Mavis Riley’s (Thelma Barlow) Spanish boyfriend Carlos in 1974. But it meant he couldn’t use his Burnley twang.
He said: "I remember coming for the interview and I thought, ‘Ah, ‘Coronation Street’, I can use my own Burnley accent now,’ but he was from Spain.
"In the local paper the headline was, ‘Ole, Old Spanish Eyes Comes From Burnley,’ which rather blew my cover.’ "