BBC Morning Live hosts Holly Hamilton and Rav Wilding were left utterly astonished during Friday's broadcast when a former Coronation Street star disclosed a bizarre, long-concealed injury sustained during the filming of an iconic British movie.
Shocking Revelation on Live Television
Actor Nigel Havers, best known for his role as Lewis Archer in Coronation Street between 2009 and 2019, made a memorable appearance on the popular BBC programme. While discussing his upcoming touring show and sharing anecdotes from his extensive career, the conversation took an unexpected turn that left both presenters gasping in disbelief.
The Hidden Injury from Chariots of Fire
Havers, now 74, revealed that while preparing for his role in the acclaimed 1981 film Chariots of Fire, he suffered a significant injury that he kept secret for decades. The actor, who earned a BAFTA nomination for his portrayal of Lord Andrew Lindsay, explained the circumstances behind the incident.
'When I did Chariots of Fire, we learnt how to be professional athletes, really,' Havers told the hosts. 'We had a trainer for five months. I had to learn to hurdle. I could run at school and was quite good, but I looked at hurdling and thought it looked really uncomfortable. I had to learn because that was the character I was playing.'
A Desperate Concealment
The actor described how, just ten days before filming began, he was demonstrating his newly-acquired hurdling skills to co-star Ben Cross when disaster struck. 'I clipped the last hurdle, stuck my hand out, and dislocated my shoulder... and I broke my wrist,' Havers confessed.
What followed was an extraordinary decision born of professional necessity. 'I couldn't tell anybody because I thought if I broke my wrist I wouldn't be in the film,' he admitted. 'So it mended on its own, in a very sort of strange way.'
Visible Evidence of the Incident
The revelation became even more dramatic when Havers pulled up his sleeve to show the hosts how his wrist had healed. The visible evidence of the improperly treated break prompted audible gasps from both Hamilton and Wilding.
'So that's still there to this day?' an astonished Rav Wilding exclaimed, while Holly Hamilton added, 'That's because you just ignored it? Tried to let it heal by itself?' Havers confirmed this was exactly what had happened.
Lasting Consequences
The actor revealed the permanent effects of his decision to conceal the injury. 'I've lost all feeling in my thumb and stuff!' he told the presenters, adding with characteristic understatement, 'But no one's ever noticed!' The hosts immediately responded with the joking retort, 'Until now!'
Havers' extensive career includes not only his long-running role in Coronation Street but also appearances in numerous television series including Finding Alice, The Gentlemen, Brothers & Sisters, Dangerfield, The Good Guys and Don't Wait Up. His film credits include significant roles in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun and David Lean's A Passage to India.
Broader Career Discussion
During the interview, Havers also discussed his second touring show, promising audiences 'the full Havers experience: charm, wit, and absolutely no running in slow motion.' The programme provided a fascinating insight into the sometimes painful realities behind glamorous film productions and the extraordinary measures actors take to protect their careers.
BBC Morning Live continues to broadcast on weekdays at 9:30am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, regularly featuring surprising revelations from the world of entertainment alongside its usual mix of lifestyle and current affairs content.
