Kenneth Branagh has revealed that Judi Dench exposed herself to him when they met backstage to discuss their new film.

Appearing on The Graham Norton Show alongside Dench to discuss Murder on the Orient Express, Branagh recalled pitching the project (which he directs and stars in) to her while she was appearing in a play. Despite their 30-year friendship, he revealed that he didn't quite expect to then receive an eyeful.

"She was the first person I asked to be on the train and she very kindly said yes before I had finished the sentence," Branagh said. "It was very thrilling because it made a big difference to getting everyone else.”

"I went into her dressing room one night and she was sitting in her dressing gown. We are excitedly talking about the film... when we get the call to go on stage. We are still chatting in the wings and with 30 seconds to go she throws off her dressing gown and there is nothing on below the waist!"

"I had the briefest of looks," he remembered, "but I can confirm, like the song, 'there is nothing like a dame!'"