FORMER Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley has been revealed as the "well-known celebrity" embroiled in a row over free birthday cakes.
Earlier this week, a baker shared an email exchange between her company and a firm representing an unidentified star.
It asked asked for a 40th birthday cake, 100 cupcakes and an extra smaller birthday cake for her husband.
But Catherine has insisted she had "no idea" the emails were being sent, adding: "I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving."
Party planners organising a 40th bash for the actress approached baker Rebecca Severs over an order for two bespoke cakes.
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However, she shut down the Leeds-based party planners, NVRLND, who said she would be paid "in the form of social media promotion" by the "well-known celebrity" to create a cake (with the theme of "pinks, sparkles and a touch of flamingos"), a second cake for her husband, photographer Tom Pitfield, and 100 cupcakes.
In a tongue in cheek reply, Rebecca, owner of Three Little Birds Bakery in Keighley, West Yorkshire, wrote: "I’m so sorry to hear that your client has fallen on such hard times they can’t afford to pay small businesses their products.
"Unfortunately as my mortgage provider doesn’t take payment 'in the form of promotion on their socials', and my staff can’t feed their kids with exposure on Instagram, I’ll have to decline your very generous offer."
She later told her own social media followers she had been "blown away" by the support, adding she is "so happy to see that so many other people agree that small business shouldn’t be taken advantage of!"
Actress Catherine ranted about the free cake-saga in a video on Instagram this morning - and even took a swipe at the baker.
She said: "I had no idea those emails were being sent. I'm not working with the lovely OK! Magazine on anything that I'm aware of.
"Utterly bizarre, I don't really know what to say.
"I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving."
Catherine is best known for playing Eva Price on Coronation Street for seven years.
She left the soap in 2018, going on to star in BBC sitcom Scarborough.
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Catherine also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2019, but was the fifth star to be voted off after a dance off with BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell.
In a statement, NVRLND founder Victoria Eames said: "We selected Three Little Birds Bakery to collaborate with a view to support a local business and help them grow.
"Our aim is to connect small local businesses with the opportunity of growth and the possibility of a full diary which is what we have experienced when working on past collaborations. We would never expect any business to be out of pocket and nor would our client.
"Our email communication to Three Little Birds has unfortunately been completely misconstrued.
"Due to contractual obligations, we are unable to comment on the identity of our client."
