To have a guest role in Friends would be on many people’s ultimate bucketlists – but not Louise Redknapp’s it seems.
The singer has revealed she “turned down” the role of Ross Geller’s second wife Emily on the US sitcom so she could appear on Top Of The Pops.
Emily featured in the fourth and fifth seasons of Friends and ended up being played by Cold Feet star Helen Baxendale.
But speaking at a socially-distanced music event at the Clapham Grand on Friday, Louise revealed how it could have been her standing opposite David Schwimmer as Ross when he made *that* epic wedding gaffe.
According to Metro, who were in attendance at the event, Louise said she chose to appear on Top Of The Pops instead as it was a “big opportunity”.
“I didn’t have a lot of time and a lot of people were investing money into the album,” she said.
“To be on Top Of The Pops with that single meant a lot to me. Back in the day Top Of The Pops was huge.”
The host at the gig later referenced a “Jennifer Aniston and Louise love triangle”, to which Louise replied: “Yeah, well you know Top Of The Pops was really important at the time.”
The character of Emily was involved in one of Friends’ most memorable storylines back in 1998.
The fourth season’s finale saw Rachel Green – played by Jennifer Aniston – fly to London to try and stop Ross and Emily’s wedding after realising that she was still in love with Ross.
While Ross went ahead with the marriage, he blurted out Rachel’s name instead of Emily’s as he recited his wedding vows, leaving the show on a major cliffhanger.
News that Louise was almost in Friends is not the only shock casting revelation that has come to light in recent weeks.
Last month, Jane Sibbett, who played Ross’ first wife Carol Willet, revealed she was originally in the frame to play Rachel, but had to turn the role down as she was pregnant at the time.