It was one of the more unlikely partnerships of recent years.
And now Robert De Niro has revealed how he ended up filming a TV ad for Warburtons in Bolton, saying that he 'thought it was funny'.
The Hollywood star followed in the footsteps of Sylvester Stallone, who starred in an advert for the bakery in 2015, by appearing alongside company chairman Jonathan Warburton in a campaign earlier this year.
De Niro, 76, told British GQ: "Look, they asked me to do it and I met the guy, Warburton, and I thought it was funny.
"I saw Stallone do it and I thought at least he has a sense of humour about it and about himself.
"And I thought I can look at it two ways.
"Should I think I should never have done that? I'm too good for that or something? And I said, f*** it, I'll do it. Why not?"
The star of The Godfather Part II and Raging Bull added: "Don't hold it against me."
In the advert, set in Bolton, two-time Oscar winner De Niro spoofed some of the gangster roles he's renowned for as he and his accomplices attempted to scupper Warburtons' bagel sales in favour of their New York products.
All of the action in the advert is unknown to the oblivious Warburton, who thinks De Niro is delivering a pitch for a new film.
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De Niro also seen with an 'I love BLTN' mug – a Bolton-based play on the iconic 'I love NYC' logo.
The December issue of British GQ is available on Friday November 1.
