Former EastEnders icon Tamzin Outhwaite has confessed to a moment of pure television gold, revealing she was completely stumped by a seemingly simple puzzle on ITV's Celebrity Catchphrase.
The actress, 53, best known for playing Melanie Owen in the BBC One soap, joined hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary on This Morning to promote her new stage role. The conversation took a hilarious turn as she recounted her recent appearance on the classic game show hosted by Stephen Mulhern.
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Outhwaite described the moment the animated Catchphrase board presented her with a deceptively tricky challenge. The screen showed a large, red London bus with the word 'PAPER' printed on its side.
"I'm looking at it and I'm going, 'A paper bus? That doesn't make any sense. A bus made of paper? What is that?',' she recalled, much to the amusement of the studio. "I felt so stupid!"
The Agonising Wait for the Penny to Drop
The actress admitted to a significant mental block, staring blankly at the clue as the seconds ticked down. The correct answer, the common phrase "Paper bus," meaning a bus ticket or a bus on a timetable, completely eluded her.
"I just didn't get it," she laughed, burying her face in her hands at the memory. Her genuine bafflement provided the kind of unscripted comedy that reality and game show producers dream of.
From Albert Square to Catchphrase Catastrophe
Tamzin, who is set to star in the stage production of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, took the entire experience in good humour. Her candid confession and self-deprecating charm won over the This Morning hosts, who roared with laughter at her expense.
The segment highlights the unpredictable and often hilarious nature of celebrity game shows, where even the most famous stars can be tripped up by a classic British turn of phrase. Viewers can likely look forward to seeing Tamzin's funniest moments when her episode of Celebrity Catchphrase airs later this year on ITV1 and ITVX.
