Alan Halsall reveals ‘funny’ moment King Charles visited Coronation Street set: ‘I was taken aback’
Coronation Street star Alan Halsall shared a hilarious moment King Charles visited the set of the long-running ITV soap with his Campmates on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.
The then Prince of Wales appeared as himself as part of the show’s 40th anniversary live special in 2000.
Footage of Charles meeting Sue Nicholls’ character Audrey Roberts while visiting Weatherfield was played on TV’s during the special live episode.
As part of filming, Charles toured the set and met members of cast including a 22-year-old Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.
Charles unveiled a plaque commemorating the soap’s 40th anniversary and dropped in on a scene featuring Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth, and Halsall.
Halsall recollected the memorable day with his campmates on Friday’s I’m a Celebrity.
Halsall began by detailing the protocols that had been explained to the Corrie cast ahead of Charles’ visit, including “waiting for him to speak and all that”.
However, his co-star had other ideas.
“Vera, Liz Dawn, was laid in bed, she was in a coma during that episode… he (Charles) comes walking through studio and Liz is in bed and she went ‘Ere, have you bought me grapes?’”
The 42-year-old then revealed Charles turned to his entourage and jokingly asked: “Have we brought grapes?”
The camp erupted in laughter as Halsall spoke of the admiration he gained for Charles from the experience.
“He was really funny with it, really personable. I must admit, I was taken aback. I was impressed,” the Coronation Street star glowed.
Halsall’s story reminded Richard Coles of his own royal anecdotes, including one involving the late Queen at the state opening of parliament.
The 62-year-old told of how the monarch and Prince Phillip were forced to take the lift while wearing full regalia after finding a set of stairs too challenging.
However, the royals were sent to the wrong floor and ended up at the service level to the surprise of a cleaner who absent-mindedly entered the lift with a trolly.
Coles, stifling laughter, revealed the cleaner noticed and immediately said: “F*****g hell.”
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As the camp roared with laughter, he added the late Queen later invited the cleaner to tea at Buckingham Palace.
Grinning ear to ear, Halsall said, “that is brilliant” to Coles’ story.
One Campmate who will miss out on further anecdotes is Loose Women star Jane Moore, who became the first celeb to be voted off the jungle this week.