Catherine Tyldesley and her Coronation Street bosses have addressed accusations that the actress and colleagues unlawfully promoted products on Twitter.Channel 4 programme Dispatches allegedly filmed an undercover sting in which they offered stars bogus free products to see whether they would accept and promote them.Coronation Street vehemently denied any wrongdoing, saying, "Cast members responded to tweets sent directly to them by some brands to say thank you. "Contrary to the allegations which have been made, they didn't receive free gifts in return for tweeting or indulge in any kind of unlawful marketing promotion."
Catherine herself hinted at the accusations when she wrote on Twitter, "Dear God... Thankyou for this lovely day #notanAd. "The 29-year-old actress and her fellow on-screen star Brooke Vincent were reportedly seen attending the "gifting event" in Manchester and leaving with shopping bags.The duo later allegedly thanked the fictitious brand for their goodies on Twitter, breaching Advertising Standards Authority guidelines, which state that freebies should clearly be marked as adverts.If individuals wish to endorse products on Twitter, they should use hashtags such as "#spons" or "#ad", said the organisation.
The fictitious set-up is expected to be aired in an upcoming episode of Dispatches, but it is understood that a transmission date has not been confirmed as ITV and Channel 4 battle it out in legal proceedings.Extracts of the investigation were leaked by certain newspapers, to which Coronation Street star Simon Gregson tweeted, "Ill be taking legal advise today over the awful lies printed in the sun. "The bogus products on offer at the Manchester event included a bottle of anti-ageing skin toner said to be filled with water "from a mountain well in Bali", but actually contained tap water.An energising bracelet said to have been "blessed by Buddhist monks" was also given away.