05 August 2023 , 12:27
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Catherine Tyldesley failed to raise a smile as she was pictured for the first time since becoming embroiled in a bizarre 'cakegate' row.
The former Coronation Street actress has endured a tumultuous week after she was accused of trying to blag a haul of freebies from a local bakery for her 40th birthday party.
The Eva Price star said she knew nothing about the request that before taking a swipe at the bakery owner saying: "I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving' in a defiant post.
As she broke cover for the first time since the scandal, Catherine was seen looking glum as she made her way to the gym. Dressed in head to toe black, minus a pair of baby pink trainers, the actress cut a forlorn figure as she headed to her workout.
The star, who is due to turn 40 in September, kept her phone close at hand after previously filming her stunned response to 'cake gate' on her mobile this week.
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A row kicked off after owner Three Little Birds bakery Rebecca Severs - known as Bec - shared an email exchange between her and a firm repping an unidentified celebrity this week, that was later revealed to be former soap and Strictly Come Dancing star Catherine.
The brief called for a 40th birthday cake ('pinks, sparkles and a touch of flamingos'), 100 cupcakes and a smaller birthday cake for the star's husband - to be delivered for free on the night of a party in exchange for a social media plug.
(SplashNews.com)
(SplashNews.com)A shocked Bec shared the request on her social media page, later admitting the post was 'a bit of fun' as she didn't have many followers.
However, the post went viral with followers leaping to Bec's defence as they called the request for freebies 'tone deaf' and 'cheeky.'
Bec wrote back to the celeb's representative: "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."
After Catherine went on to be named as the star at the heart of the drama she took to Instagram to insist she had 'no idea' the emails had been sent.
Catherine kept her phone close at hand (SplashNews.com)
The star took a swipe at the bakery for going public with the request (Instagram/auntiecath17)In a video filmed in her car, Catherine fumed: "Cakegate. What?! Um, utterly bizarre. I don't really know what to say. I mean, I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving."
She went on: "I have no idea those emails were being sent. I'm not working with the lovely OK! Magazine on anything that I'm aware of and NVRLAND are an amazing company. They've supplied me with performers in the past. They're insane and they've been completely misrepresented in this matter. Utterly bizarre."
Amid the furore, Her pal Jason Manford, who she starred alongside in Scarborough, then decided to make a public show of support.
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Rebecca Severs, from Keighley, founded Three Little Birds Bakery seven years ago (thethreelittlebirdsbakery/Facebook)
Jason Manford has stuck up for Catherine Tyldesley in the wake of the 'cake gate' dramaTaking to Facebook sharing a snap of himself enjoying a cup of tea dressed as a lion for The Wizard Of Oz musical, Jason wrote: "What's this? A local business asking a celeb to plug their business for free online. One of several requests we get asked a day. More than happy to help out the @thesoho_hotel and tell everyone to get down there and enjoy their yummy Wizard Of Oz afternoon tea!
"It's a weird old business showbiz, a reciprocal, symbiotic relationship has flourished online where business and celebs/influencers have become entwined into helping each other out, often for free, simply to share and promote one another. Often for free stuff!!!If either a business or a celeb ever don't want to do it, a simple no thank you will suffice from either party. No witch hunt, no calling people out. Just an unwritten code. Show love. Show respect. #peaceout (Also the cakes were genuinely delicious)."
While the bakery at the heart of the scandal say they have 'never been busier' with customers lining up around the block to taste their treats.