Love Actually fans stunned to discover there was just a FIVE YEAR age gap between Juliet and Sam

NO question about it - Christmas just isn't Christmas until we've watched Hugh Grant prance around 10 Downing Street or cried our eyes out over that CD present-giving scene.

But while we always thought we knew everything there was to know about Love Actually, fans of the hit film have now realised that Keira Knightley was just FIVE years older than child actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster at the time of filming.

5

Despite Keira's character being involved in an intense love triangle while child actor Thomas was pining after his bandmate, these two British stars are actually much closer in age than any of us realised.

Off the back of her Bend it Like Beckham success, Keira Knightley was only 17 years old when she played blushing bride Juliet in the hit 2003 Crimbo classic.

Meanwhile, lovelorn pre-teen Sam - who melted our hearts by declaring his love for romantic interest Joanna at Heathrow - was just 12 years old.

And let's just say, fans have been left well and truly shaken by the news.

5

Taking to Twitter to express their disbelief, one user kicked off the conversation with: "When you find out Keira Knightley and the little boy in Love Actually have a 5 year age gap #wtf"

Another added: "Keira Knightley in Love Actually is only 5 years older than the little boy Sam that plays in the school band for the American girl... if that doesn't come as shock then nothing will."

5

5

But just when we'd wrapped our heads around this casting news, another Love Actually whizz pointed out: "THAT MEANS that 30-year-old Andrew Lincoln was in love with 17-year-old Keira Knightley and now this movie is really weird."

As if we didn't already have mixed feelings about the infamous "To Me You are Perfect" scene, now we have to find a way to cope with the 13 year age gap between the two characters...

5

Not to mention how Keira's on-screen husband Chiwetel Ejofor was a whole DECADE older than the actress at the time.

But regardless of the enlightening news, that doesn't mean we won't be sitting down to watch our all-time favourite film for the millionth time on Christmas Day.

Poking fun at the Crimbo classic, streaming service Netflix summed up the movie with the humorous description: "People in London know each other for numerous reasons.

"One of them is Tiff from Eastenders. Andrew Lincoln also stars as a stalker with a felt tip."

MOST READ IN FABULOUS

GINO SEX JIBE

Moment Gino D'Acampo humiliated female dancer on TV by asking for a THREESOME

HACK ATTACK

All iPhone users urged to ‘update their devices now’ after security breach

UP FOR THE CUP

Man Utd land tricky tie while Man City welcome fourth round giant killers

DRAWN OUT

'Absolute fix' fume fans as Plymouth land nightmare FA Cup fifth round tie

In more festive film news, the boy in the octopus costume from Love Actually is all grown up - and he's hot.

Plus love Actually fans claim there's a HUGE plot hole in the scene where Alan Rickman gives wife Emma Thompson a CD.

And Love Actually star Olivia Olson is even more glamorous 15 years after appearing in the Christmas flick.