Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson "hated" their kissing scenes on TV film ‘Death on the Tyne’.
The 48-year-old comedian says smooching his 42-year-old co-star on the new murder mystery show felt "unnatural" because the pair are loved-up with their real life partners.
Speaking about how they handled their snogging scenes, he told Metro newspaper: "We hated them. Sian had the worst start to the first film – day one she was being stabbed in the toilet and the second was snogging me.
"We said, ‘Great, we’ve got it out the way so we can enjoy the rest of the job!’
"But by the end they wanted more shots and it was literally me, Sian and a boom operator in a room with a walkie-talkie going, ‘And lips! Neck! Now nuzzle! Nuzzle, nuzzle, lips! Again! Hug – hand higher up, Johnny!’
"It’s the most unnatural thing. Both of our partners were winding us up, going, ‘Did you have a good day snogging?’ "
The ‘Benidorm’ actor has two children – a three year old son, Tom, with his wife Maia Dunphy, and 12-year-old son Michael from his first marriage to Catherine Donnelly.
Sian is married to Ian Gibson, with whom she has a son.
While they struggled with their intimate scenes, the actor quickly became friends with the ‘Peter Kay’s Car Share’ actress, because she lifted his spirits on set.
He added: "We hadn’t met before, but we got on instantly. We’ve become good mates. Sian is very much like myself.
"I’m in London with my son Michael but when I’m not, I’m in Dublin or back home in St Helens.
"Both of us have stayed within our community and our mates and are unchanged by the business.
"On set I’m a miserable sod and she’s a breath of fresh air."