Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley hits back at bakery

Three Little Birds Bakery on Cavendish Street in Keighley has been in the national news after declining a request to make cakes for soap actress Catherine Tyldesley's 40th birthday party.

Last week, owner of the bakery Rebecca Severs shared an email on Facebook from Leeds-based party planners NVRLND, acting on behalf of Mrs Tyldesley, which said payment would be made in the form of social media and magazine promotion.

The post also featured a response from Mrs Severs highlighting that the company's staff "can't feed their kids with exposure on Instagram".

The social media post has received hundreds of comments and shares, with many people supportive of the bakery's approach to call out the company.

Mrs Tyldesley, 39, reacted to the controversy on Instagram this morning by saying: "I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving.

"I have got journalists knocking on my front door while my kids are playing in the front room.

"Dead nice that, thanks for coming."

Catherine Tyldesley labelled the debacle 'Cake Gate' in an Instagram post (Image: Social Media)

In the short clip, she added: "Cake gate.

"I had no idea those emails were being sent. I am not working with the lovely OK magazine on anything that I am aware of.

"NVRLND are an amazing company, they have supplied me with performers in the past. They are insane and they have been completely misrepresented in this matter.

"Utterly bizarre, I don't really know what to say."

The initial NVRLND request asked if Three Birds would be interested in "organising a 40th Birthday Party for a well-known celebrity".

The PR company outlined that the theme of the party was "camp as t**s" and wanted the bakery to make several cakes.

This featured a 40th birthday cake, 100 cupcakes and a smaller cake for her husband.

It added: "In return for being a supplier for the event, payment would be made in the form of promotion on their socials with over 700K followers, as well as promoted in OK Magazine.

"They will be crediting all the suppliers on these platforms.

"The party has a guest lists full of celebrities and industry people from tv, film and music, so loads of work would come from it.

"NVRLND would also use you for our future events and parties."

The actress has appeared in both Coronation Street and Emmerdale (Image: PA)

Mrs Severs responded with an email declining the offer.

It read: "We do have availability for your date.

"I'm so sorry to hear that your client has fallen on such hard times they can't afford to pay small businesses for 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."

The Telegraph & Argus has approached NVRLND for a comment but has received no response.

But founder Victoria Eames has been quoted elsewhere saying the email communication between them and Three Little Birds has been "completely misconstrued".

They explained how they and their client would cover all the bakery's expenses for the job as well as offering social media content and national exposure.

On their own website, NVRLND is described as a "UK Events Management company that specialises in unique entertainment and campaign activations".

Rebecca Severs opened her bakery earlier this year (Image: Newsquest)

Three Little Birds Bakery opened on Cavendish Street on Friday, May 19.

The bakery offers a host of treats including luxury cupcakes, macarons, brownies, and tiffin.

It also has sticky toffee cupcakes filled with caramel sauce and French custard buttercream as part of its menu for customers.

The bakery has a selection of vegan and gluten-free options, as well as serving coffee.

Mrs Severs initially set up the business in November 2015 following a previous career in publishing.

She had already been making wedding and birthday cakes before opening earlier this year.

Mrs Tyldesley, of Salford, is most well-known for playing Eva Price in the ITV soap from 2011 to 2018.

In 2010, she played the role of Abi Peterson in Emmerdale for two months.

Mrs Tydesley also starred in BBC shows Lilies as Iris Moss and Karen Norris in 2019's Scarborough.

In 2019, the actor participated in the 17th series of Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with Johannes Radebe.