Eastenders has proved a painful experience for actors Max Bowden and Tony Clay.
The duo, who play badboy Ben Mitchell and ex-soldier Callum “Halfway” Highway, have been having a secret gay romance on the BBC soap.
However, the kissing scenes have left them red-faced as one took three hours to film and they ended up with beard rash.
Tony explained: “We’re at an age where we have good solid stubble going on.
“So when you’re filming stuff in a cold park ’til midnight, there’s only so much Carmex (moisturiser) you can use so you get a bit of beard rash.”
Soap executive producer Kate Oates added: “They earned their money that night!
“They started kissing at about half past seven and at half past 10 they were still going at it!”
Fans expect fireworks next week as that is when Callum is set to marry fiancée Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty).
She has no idea he is gay.
Asked if they will end up as “bride and doom”, show boss Kate laughed: “It’s a soap wedding day! You’ve seen them before, right?”
Since Tony has kissed both Shona or Max, when asked who was the best smoocher, he blushed: “Both come with different qualities!
“I get no beard rash from Shona, which is lovely!”
Fans have dubbed the couple “Ballum” – a combination of their names Ben and Callum.
Max joked: “It had to be that. “Cen” wouldn’t really work, would it?”