REVEALED: Ex-Corrie actress Catherine Tyldesley who tried to blag free cakes off struggling baker enjoyed £77,000 worth of freebies in the past 12 months
- The actress shared at least 21 posts promoting freebies and perks on Instagram
- READ MORE: Baker who didn’t give free cakes to ex-Corrie actress hits back
In the past 12 months, the actress has shared at least 21 posts on Instagram (@auntiecath17) promoting freebies and perks worth an estimated £77,000, which — under guidelines introduced by the Advertising Standards Authority in 2018 — she has to disclose to her followers using words such as ‘ad’ or ‘gifted’.
Some are paid partnerships with brands involving not only freebies but payments of up to £4,000 per social media post.
So eager is the actress to plug things online that in 2013, she — and several Corrie co-stars — were caught in a Channel 4 sting after being persuaded by undercover journalists to promote cosmetics and jewellery from a fake company, in exchange for designer goods.
SARAH RAINEY reveals some of the goodies the actress has received in recent years…
THE GIFTED FURNISHINGS: In 2021, Catherine and photographer husband Tom started renovating their home in Walkden, Greater Manchester — with help from a partnership with Magnet Kitchens, who kitted them out with a kitchen estimated to have cost around £13,000. Several walls in the house have been repapered, courtesy of online retailer I Love Wallpaper; there’s a plush armchair in Tom’s study, thanks to Danish brand JYSK; and Catherine shared an image of her leather sofa — £3,999 from Sofology, plus £499 footstool — in June 2021, with the hashtag ‘#gift’. She also shared a picture, as part of an affiliate advertising campaign (she is paid to direct followers their way) with Primrose online garden centre, showing her in a double egg chair — yours for £699.99. Hers, presumably, for nothing
THE ALL-ELECTRIC BMW SUV: Weeks after having her daughter in April 2022, Catherine picked up a fully electric white BMW iX3 in Manchester, writing on Instagram: ‘We were invited to the Williams retail centre, just down the road in Trafford City. I can’t begin to tell you how special and unique the ‘reveal’ and handover process is. Epic would be the right word.’ Labelling the post an ‘ad’, she thanked Williams Motor Group for the family’s shiny new car, which they have been using —while extolling the benefits of electric vehicles — ever since. On the company’s website, the car — fitted with a voice-activated personal assistant, panoramic glass roof and high-spec leather interior — can be bought as part of a finance agreement for £72,015
THE GENEROUS GADGET GIVEAWAY: Catherine loves gadgets, from the £55 Russell Hobbs steam iron she posted about in July 2021 to the £159 electronic Skylight Photo Frame she recommended as a gift last Christmas. Thanks to her work with kids’ company Tonies, both her children have their own £79.99 musical storybox, pictured right, and she got a Fisher-Price musical baby gym (worth £35) as part of a social media ad featuring Iris. Catherine has recently shared ads promoting free items for her son Alfie, including a subscription to The Week Junior (£33.99). She even kitted him out in his school uniform, courtesy of an advert for online retailer Very
THE FREE-OF-CHARGE STAYCATION BREAKS: Catherine, husband Tom and children Alfie, eight, and Iris, one, seem to prefer staycations to foreign trips — perhaps because of a deal she has with holiday company Sykes Cottages. Courtesy of Sykes, the family have stayed at a cottage in rural Wales, a converted engine shed in Whitby and, most recently, at picturesque Lanshaw House, near Lancaster, pictured right, where a two-night retreat usually costs £871. They have also enjoyed a trip to Olicana Park in Yorkshire, where luxury cabin The Lookout has a hot tub and sauna (a stay costs £700, but this one was only ‘part gifted’). Last month, Catherine shared photographs from a trip to London to watch comedian Jason Manford in The Wizard Of Oz musical, writing: ‘Thank you for a gorgeous stay ME London hotel.’ She tagged the post ‘#PRstay’. Rooms at the five-star hotel on The Strand cost £484 a night
THE NO-COST CLOTHES AND THE WEDDING IN HELLO!: As well as being given pretty floral frocks from local boutiques, Catherine has also acquired a taste for the finer things in life — especially when they come without a price tag, like the leather sandals worth £259 and the £499 dress, both from LK Bennett, and the Fairfax & Favor trenchcoat (£395) and suede crossbody bag (£250), all of which were ‘#gifted’. She wore a floral dress given to her by UK brand Spoiled Brat, worth £210, last month, pictured right; and a plush tracksuit set from A-list favourite Sporty & Rich, sold at Selfridges for £275. Two designer dresses, groomsmen in sequined jackets, scented candles, rooms filled with flowers and a venue costing £15,000… Catherine’s wedding at Colshaw Hall in Cheshire, in May 2016, was featured in Hello! magazine. Experts believe the deal with the publication could have netted her as much as £30,000, on top of any discounted wedding services or products. Afterwards, the couple jetted off to Dubai, to stay at the £730-a-night Al Maha Resort and £300-a-night Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa (though there’s no indication this was a freebie)
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