Monday 16 May 2022 02:31 PM ITV bosses are slammed after Tom Cruise used Platinum Jubilee interview to plug ... trends now

ITV were today accused of allowing Tom Cruise to hijack and 'cheapen' the opening event of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee so he could promote Top Gun 2 in return for reading for less than a minute from an Autocue.

The 59-year-old American star was mobbed by fans as he arrived at the Royal Windsor Horse Show before a 55-second appearance where he introduced the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery as 'one of the most enthralling, thrilling, heart-in-mouth displays' he'd ever seen.

But there were no stunts from him, as he then enjoyed a much longer interview with Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham at the celebratory evening, where he describe his new film as being made 'for the fans' after the hosts also raved about his new film.

One critic watching at home said: 'So sad to cheapen the #queensjubilee @itv by using it as a publicity stunt for @TomCruise. Very sad and disappointing. This isn't the time for advertising. Such a shame'.

Another tweeted sarcastically: 'Why are they now talking about the Queen and interrupting Tom Cruise's #PlatinumJubilee PR stunt?' while one royal expert joked: 'Did Tom Cruise pay ITV?'.

Acclaimed PR guru Mark Borkowski told MailOnline that there was 'no way' Cruise would have taken part if he couldn't give his Top Gun sequel a 'big push' on live TV.

Mr Cruise, who is in the UK to promote his new movie, was able to do so on the ITV show watched by 5.1million viewers last night - comfortably the most watched broadcast in the UK yesterday.

Mr Borkowski said: 'I doubt they paid him to appear - but may have covered all his expenses. ITV will have wanted to have the biggest show possible and that means bringing in A-Listers such as Tom Cruise and other top talent like Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis because it brings in advertising'. 

MailOnline has asked ITV to comment on whether Cruise was paid.