Joan Collins thought Martin Compston was threatening to kill her after refusing to stand for Simply the Best

DAME Joan Collins mistakenly thought Martin Compston was threatening to kill her after he objected to Rangers anthem Simply The Best being played at an awards ceremony.

The Celtic-daft Line of Duty star refused to stand up to applaud and made a throat cutting gesture when the Tina Turner hit was belted out as Collins walked on stage at the National Television Awards.

The clip went viral and many viewers and the Dynasty star herself were left bemused at the actor's reaction.

TV presenter Piers Morgan told how he had to explain to the 88-year-old that Compston was unhappy at the song choice because of his football allegiances and had no ill will towards her.

He said: "At the end of the dreary show, Dame Joan Collins glided out like a ray of glittering Hollywood sunshine shining out over a sea of dull reality TV plankton, prompting the whole crowd to give her a roaring standing ovation as Tina Turner's Simply The Best belted out.

"Well, all except one person. Sitting firmly unimpressed in his front row seat was Line Of Duty star Martin Compston, who instead looked furious and performed a sinister throat-cutting sign with his hand.

"The clip soon went viral on Twitter with people aghast at his oddly hostile behaviour towards a beloved national treasure.

"I found it equally baffling; Compston was in my World XI when I was a manager at Soccer Aid several years and you won't meet a nicer bloke."

Morgan, 56, discovered the real reason behind 37-year-old Compston's snub before having dinner with Collins the next day.

He said: "Mystery solved: Compston's throat slashing manoeuvre was because he's a diehard Celtic fan and Simply The Best is the adopted anthem for their bitter rivals Rangers.