CAKE GATE
Corrie’s Catherine Tyldesley hits back in row over Three Little Birds bakery ‘asked to make 100 cakes for free’
FORMER Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley has hit back after being revealed as the "well-known celebrity" accused of blagging free birthday cakes.
The soap star, 39, took to Instagram to share her side and slammed the baker for using her name for "exposure".
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It comes after the small business shared an email exchange between it and a firm representing an unidentified star now revealed to be Catherine.
It asked for a 40th birthday cake, 100 cupcakes and an extra smaller birthday cake for her husband in return for exposure.
The ex-Coronation Street star has now insisted she had "no idea" the emails were being sent.
Recording an Instagram Story today, Catherine took a swipe at the baker telling followers: "Cake gate. What?
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"Um, utterly bizarre, I don't really know what to say. I mean, I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving."
A company organising a 40th bash for the actress had approached baker Rebecca Severs over a hefty order for two bespoke cakes.
However, Rebecca shut down Leeds-based party planners NVRLND who said she would be paid "in the form of social media promotion" by the "well-known celebrity".
Their brief included a request for a free cake for Catherine's 40th birthday - which falls in September - with a theme of "pinks, sparkles and a touch of flamingos".
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A second freebie cake was requested for Catherine's husband, photographer Tom Pitfield, and 100 extra cupcakes.
In a tongue in cheek reply, Rebecca, owner of Three Little Birds Bakery in Keighley, West Yorkshire, wrote back: "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."
Rebecca later told her own social media followers that she had been "blown away" by their support.
She added she was "so happy to see that so many other people agree that small business shouldn’t be taken advantage of!"
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.
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 defended their request for free cakes.
She 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.
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"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."
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