Denise Welch recalls night she left Tom Cruise howling with laughter at Michael Caine’s birthday

Denise Welch has opened up on the night she spent with Tom Cruise while celebrating Michael Caine’s 90th birthday. 

The Loose Women star, 64, was surrounded by A-list stars last week when she attended the Oscar winner’s birthday dinner on Tuesday evening and they all appeared to get on like a house on fire.

The acting legend celebrated his milestone year with an intimate dinner at London’s River Cafe, with Tom Cruise who just days earlier chose to skip the 2023 Oscars ceremony, one of the VIP guests.

Denise had the Hollywood guests in hysterics during her speech and opened up about the bizarre evening when she appeared on Wednesday’s Loose Women. 

She gushed over the ‘absolutely incredible’ evening as she revealed she’d made up a few anecdotes in order to get the crowd going. 

Life and soul of the party: Denise Welch has opened up on the night she spent with Tom Cruise last week while celebrating Michael Caine’s 90th birthday

He's a fan: Last week Denise shared an amusing video of herself telling the crude joke, which left Hollywood star Tom Cruise and other guests in absolute stitches

He’s a fan: Last week Denise shared an amusing video of herself telling the crude joke, which left Hollywood star Tom Cruise and other guests in absolute stitches

Denise explained: ‘[Michael’s wife] Shakira asked me to say a few words and as much as I was flattered, there isn’t a story that he hasn’t already told and I was really stuck for it so asked her If I could be a bit rude.

‘Shakira did a speech and David Walliams did a very funny speech and then Tom Cruise walked in, and Lincoln [Denise’s husband] went bright red because Tom is his favourite actor. 

‘I wasn’t feeling well and I didn’t think I could do the speech, but then a few people did a speech and Joan Collins did one and got a laugh so I thought “no, I’m not having this”, so I got up and did mine!

‘Because I didn’t really have many stories for Michael I thought I’m going to have to personalise a few jokes and pretend that they’re about Michael and Shakira.

‘She was looking at me like “that didn’t happen” and I’m like “you’re ruining it!”

‘One of the stories was about as you get older you talk about age a lot more and our friends were all jumping in with their own lines about ageing.

‘I looked around and Tom Cruise was literally crying with laughter and rubbing his face with a napkin and saying “you’re killing it, you’re killing it”. 

‘So either I was very on form that night or Tom Cruise goes to really boring dinner parties.’

Wow: Denise's fans were delighted by the video, with one quipping: 'Tom Cruise skipping the Oscars to watch Denise perform stand up was not on my 2023 bingo card'

Wow: Denise’s fans were delighted by the video, with one quipping: ‘Tom Cruise skipping the Oscars to watch Denise perform stand up was not on my 2023 bingo card’

Last week, Denise shared an amusing video of herself telling a very rude joke at Michael’s expense at the fun-filled dinner party.

In the clip posted to Instagram, Denise quipped: ‘Only the other morning, Shakira said she heard a scream from downstairs, it was Michael shouting “Shakira look, there’s a parcel, my Olympic condoms have come.”

‘He said “I’m going to wear the gold ones tonight”, and she said “why not wear the silver and come f**king second for a change”.’

As the camera panned around, Tom appeared to be weeping with laughter as he sat beside Michael, who appeared amused as he enjoyed his glass of red wine.

The clip was filmed by Denise’s husband Lincoln, who could be heard telling another party-goer: ‘I live with her.’

In a caption alongside the video, Denise joked that it appeared Hollywood star Tom likes a rude joke just as much as her friend Michael does.

She wrote: ‘Such an honour to be asked by Shakira to say a few words at Sir Michael Caines’ 90th birthday!!! He loves a dirty joke and so does @tomcruise it appears!!!! Great night and amazing company.’

Denise said of the experience: 'Either I was very on form that night or Tom Cruise goes to really boring dinner parties¿

Denise said of the experience: ‘Either I was very on form that night or Tom Cruise goes to really boring dinner parties’

Pals: Denise was also among the group of unlikely celebrity pals who all flocked together to celebrate Michael's big day with a lavish meal out

Pals: Denise was also among the group of unlikely celebrity pals who all flocked together to celebrate Michael’s big day with a lavish meal out

Unlikely friends! Tom joined Sir Michael Caine to celebrate his 90th birthday alongside the likes of David Walliams on Tuesday evening

Unlikely friends! Tom joined Sir Michael Caine to celebrate his 90th birthday alongside the likes of David Walliams on Tuesday evening

Denise’s fans were delighted by the video, with one quipping: ‘Tom Cruise skipping the Oscars to watch Denise perform stand up was not on my 2023 bingo card.’

Tom had skipped the Oscars on Sunday, reportedly to ‘avoid an awkward run-in’ with Nicole Kidman. 

Insiders speaking to DailyMail.com said the Top Gun: Maverick star was not at the ceremony due to his ex-wife being there – following their bitter divorce over 20 years ago. Cruise’s movie was nominated for six awards, including the coveted Best Picture Award. 

Denise cut a glamorous figure in a sparkling black gown as she took to Instagram to share a snap of herself wrapping her arms around Michael’s neck at the bash.

Alongside the picture, she gushed: ‘Happy 90th birthday Michael Caine!!! We love you.’ 

Denise and Michael were introduced by her husband Lincoln Townley after the artist painted the movie icon’s portrait in 2016.

Close: Denise and Michael were introduced by her husband Lincoln Townley after the artist painted the movie icon's portrait in 2016 (they are all pictured with Shakira and Nikki Caine)

Close: Denise and Michael were introduced by her husband Lincoln Townley after the artist painted the movie icon’s portrait in 2016 (they are all pictured with Shakira and Nikki Caine) 

Back in July, she dished on their close friendship, calling him ‘wonderful’ and a ‘legend’. 

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline while she attended the TRIC Awards, she said: ‘Michael is a complete legend. I was very nervous of him when I first met him, he’s a huge fan of my husband’s work. I became very good friends with Shakira with his wife.

‘We see them as regularly as possible and I adore him – it’s my favorite shot in the world when I get papped with Michael Caine because I feel so cool!

‘We don’t seem to make movie stars like that anymore. He’s just a legendary actor and he’s just wonderful.’ 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk