A Mr Stink extra said that people in Hemel Hempstead town centre gathering around to watch the filming made the experience even more enjoyable.
Philip Bailey was hired to do a walk-on part in the adaptation of the children’s book by David Walliams, which was filmed in locations around the town last week .
He joined stars Pudsey the dog and Sheridan Smith outside the Marlowes Shopping Centre last Wednesday where they filmed scenes for the film, which is planned to be aired on BBC1 at 5pm on Christmas Day.
He said: “It was exciting because of the fact that I lived in Hemel Hempstead for 10 year since 1977 and worked at Lucas Aerospace, which was a major employer in the town, so there were a lot of friends, former colleagues and acquaintances stopping to say hello and not actually realising I was being filmed.”
Philip, who lives in Luton, had a walk-on part with Gavin and Stacey star Smith, who plays the mother to the main character, 12-year-old Chloe.
He said: “They needed a black person to walk past while Sheridan was making a speech. When she said ‘I have a dream’ I had to stop in my tracks but then she starts going on about how asylum seekers should go elsewhere so I get disinterested and continue walking.
“I also saw Pudsey the dog and other stars but I didn’t approach anyone because that’s not the etiquette for extras.