Coronation Street star takes ‘cryptic swipe’ at former co-star Catherine Tyldesley after ‘Cakegate’

CORONATION Street actor Daniel Brocklebank appears to have taken a swipe at former co-star Catherine Tyldesley following ‘Cakegate’.

The actress, 39, came under fire when a small bakery revealed her representatives had tried to score free cake for her birthday – something Catherine denied having any knowledge of.

Yesterday, Daniel, who plays Billy Mayhew in the soap, wrote on Twitter: “Support small, family run, local businesses & restaurants as much as possible [heart emoji].”

The tweet followed the baker at the heart of ‘Cakegate’ hitting back at Catherine’s response to the fallout.

Three Little Birds baker owner Rebecca Severs – known as Bec – shared an email exchange between her 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 soap star took to Instagram to share her side and slammed the baker for using her name for “exposure”.

Fans were quick to hit out, blasting her reply as “tone deaf”.

Bec then denied she shared the email to draw attention to herself.

She told the Mail: “I don’t have a huge social media following, so I thought it would just be a bit of fun.”

A company organising a 40th bash for Catherine had approached Bec over a hefty order for two bespoke cakes.

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”.

A second freebie cake was requested for Catherine’s husband, photographer Tom Pitfield, and 100 extra cupcakes.

In a tongue in cheek reply, Bec 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.”

After Catherine was revealed to be the star the cakes were for, she took to Instagram claiming she had “no idea” the emails were being sent.

Catherine took a swipe at the baker telling followers: “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.”