Are Michael McIntyre's Big Show stunts rehearsed in advance or maybe even scripted? First of all I have no idea. I have no inside knowledge despite having interviewed the man himself recently.

But when the show returned last week there was speculation on social media about whether Tony Hadley knew he was going to be an Unexpected Star Star. In the show the original lead singer of Spandau Ballet thought he was going to be the face of a new dental company and was on his way to have his teeth checked. Just a formality he was told. Until the surgery wall fell away and he turned out to be facing the audience of Michael McIntyre's Big Show. 

His band was also onstage and as they struck up the first chords Hadley broke into song without pausing for breath. Viewers were quick to be sceptical. Did he not think it weird that he was going for a dental check up on a Saturday night? Well, the answer to that is straightforward. The programme is not live.

Another poster on X, formerly known as Twitter, said surely Hadley must've thought it was weird that the dentist was based in the middle of London. Well, do you know what, there are probably all sorts of dentists in central London and a high class one in particular might well be in the West End.

There was plenty of praise for Hadley's singing - a man in his sixties and his pipes are still top notch, it was noted. And he was certainly singing live as you could tell when he turned to the band mid verse and said "I'll get you!". There was no miming here, as has been known on some 'shiny floor' primetime shows.

So did Hadley know what was going to happen to him? Was he upset that he wasn't the face of modern dentistry after all? Who can say? All I do know is a few series ago I was sceptical about Stella, a member of the public who was an unexpected star because with such short notice she also burst into perfect song. After raising this question on here at the time I received this reply from Stella's father Stuart:

"Loved your comment about my daughter Stella being 'note perfect', but your scepticism is unfounded. She is 100% amateur, and obviously did not have much time backstage. She was totally unaware of what she was about to face. Fortunately she had been rehearsing that song for a local Christmas show, that's why she chose it. We were so relieved when it all worked."

So there you are - Stella was completed unaware - maybe Tony Hadley was too. 

Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Saturdays, BBC One

Picture: BBC/Hungry McBear/Gary Moyes