December is here and festive adverts are flitting across our TV screens almost constantly - but one advert has a sinister element for fans of ITV soap Coronation Street.
Lidl's Christmas advertising campaign has a range of festive-themed ads, featuring a variety of different actors and Corrie fans were shocked to discover a familiar face.
Actor Ben Cartwright who played policeman Neil Clifton - who raped teenager Bethany Platt - has a small role in one of their adverts report the Liverpool Echo.
Fans of the soap watched the disturbingly memorable storyline from 2017, seeing Neil, a friend of Bethany's 'boyfriend' Nathan, got closer to the troubled teen, culminating in her being sexually abused.
The character eventually stood trial for his crimes along with Nathan and other associates, and Bethany testified.
The hard-hitting storyline saw Nathan and other abusers found guilty, resulting in a prison sentence.
But now actor Ben has turned up in the latest festive Lidl ad and some Corrie fans are struggling to see past his former sinister role.
Kris Kringleson said: "Just seen Lidl’s new Christmas ad. Is that the paedo cop that groomed Bethany in Corrie that’s in it at the end? I know the guy was just playing a part, but seems a strange choice to promote Christmas for your company."
PennGovQY said: "I'm sure I just saw the actor who played Nathan, the copper who abused Bethany on #Corrie doing a #Lidl advert."
Paul Forster said: "In scenes reminiscent of one of Nathan’s parties, Corrie villain Neil has turned up in the Christmas Lidl advert waving a bottle of booze. Festive."
As well as Christmas-themed adverts, the actor has also appeared in Casualty, drama Fearless and Netflix series The Last Czars.
