Denise Welch's husband Lincoln Townley has been drafted in as a body double on 'Hollyoaks' to allow her to shoot intimate scenes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Denise Welch
The 62-year-old star has joined the Channel 4 soap as Trish Minniver - the mum of Nikki Sanderson's character Maxine Minniver - and bosses have called on her real-life significant other to stand in for her character's lover Brad, who is played by 44-year-old Tom Benedict Knight.
Denise joked Lincoln, 48, took one look at a picture of the soap newcomer and headed straight to the gym to tone up.
She said: "Because we're doing Covid filming we're not allowed to have any physical contact.
"They come out with the two-metre pole and it's all very strict, and we have to adhere to all these guidelines.
"So they've asked Lincoln if he will come in and be a body double, so he's never out of the gym.
"He saw a picture of Tom and he's never been out of the gym - and now the gyms are closed so he's out having a run as we speak."
Denise has admitted the role is "a gift" and she is particularly pleased the show are not "making a big deal" out of the age gap between Trish and Brad.
Speaking on 'Loose Women', she added: "What is great about 'Hollyoaks' is, although I'm 62 and so is Trish, Tom is 44. And although there is an age gap, they're not making a big deal of it.
"It's actually about the two of them and what they get up to.
"The age thing is not really that relevant, and that's fantastic.
"Because we all know when you watch films or TV shows about women in their 60s, they're kind of being written as a granny.
"Whereas, I'm still after a booty call so there you go."
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