Coronation Street actor Gareth Pierce has left his legion of fans utterly astonished after revealing his close friendship with a major Hollywood star.
Soap Star's Star-Studded Social Gathering
The 44-year-old, who plays Todd Grimshaw on the iconic ITV soap, recently shared a series of snaps from a lunch reunion with some very famous faces. The photos, posted to his Instagram, featured former EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo, actress Kellie Shirley, and, most notably, Con O'Neill.
O'Neill, 59, recently starred as Chief Mackenzie Bock in the blockbuster film The Batman alongside Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz, and reprised the role in the spin-off series The Penguin with Colin Farrell.
Captioning the heartfelt post, Pierce wrote: "Snuck in a lunch with these beauts yesterday. We finished each other's sentences, took the p**s and laughed like drains. Like we always do - no matter if it's a year, five or ten."
Fans React with Shock and Delight
The unexpected crossover between the cobbles of Weatherfield and the glamour of Hollywood sent Pierce's 68.2K followers into a frenzy. Comments quickly flooded in expressing sheer surprise at the actor's high-profile connections.
One amazed fan exclaimed: "Wow your friends with the gorgeous @oneill.con", while another praised: "The type of friendship everyone needs." A third follower posted: "Love you @garpierce who knew you were friends with the amazing @oneill.con."
Other reactions highlighted the impressive circle, with comments like "Wow there are some faces. You mix in good circles" and "I bet that was a fun lunch!" One enthusiastic fan even called for a "soap/Batman crossover."
Decades-Long Friendship Revealed
Kellie Shirley also shared the photographs on her own Instagram account, shedding light on the group's long-standing connection. She explained that she has known Matt Di Angelo and Con O'Neill for two decades, and her friendship with Gareth Pierce stretches back even further, thanks to their time at the National Youth Theatre.
Pierce's revelation comes as he remains a central figure in Coronation Street's gripping current domestic abuse storyline, which sees his character Todd Grimshaw terrorised by on-screen partner Theo Silverton, played by James Cartwright.
The lunch reunion proves that away from the intense drama of the soap, the actor enjoys a solid and glamorous support network of friends whose bonds have stood the test of time.
