Tom Hiddleston has apologised to the Duchess of Cornwall for leaving her without any more episodes of The Night Manager to watch.

The TV mini-series, adapted from the John le Carre novel, concluded at the end of March.

Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager
Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager (BBC/The Ink Factory/Des Willie)

Camilla, who was visiting Radio 2 headquarters to join Chris Evans on the judging panel of the 500 Words children’s creative writing competition, met Chris’s breakfast show guests in the studio.

Greeting Tom, she cried out: “Hello Night Manager, how are you?”

She added: “It was brilliant. Everybody sat gripped.”

The Duchess of Cornwall meets Tom Hiddleston as she joined the judging panel for the station's 500 Words children's creative writing competition
The Duchess of Cornwall meets Tom Hiddleston as she joined the judging panel for the station’s 500 Words children’s creative writing competition (John Stillwell/PA)

When the Duchess complained about the series having finished, Tom responded: “I apologise unreservedly.”

Asked whether he would return for another series, he joked: “You never know, you’ll have to ask John le Carre.”

But the Duchess was less impressed that Tom had not watched all six episodes, as filming took him abroad. “So you’ve never seen the whole thing?” she asked. “That’s a bit sad.”

Tom Hiddleston in The Night Manager
Tom Hiddleston in The Night Manager (BBC/The Ink Factory/Des Willie)

British actress Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark in Game Of Thrones, found herself blushing after accidentally accepting a compliment that was not given.

The Duchess told her: “Spotted you on the box as well.”

Sophie said: “I’m glad you like it. Well, you never said that you liked it.”

The actress, 20, went red as everyone laughed – but blamed her coat for making her overheat and redden, adding: “I put on the coat to look more demure.”

The Duchess of Cornwall meets Sophie Turner
The Duchess of Cornwall meets Sophie Turner (John Stillwell/PA)

The Duchess also greeted Helen George, saying: “I know you from Strictly and Call The Midwife, I followed your progress.”

She joked: “It looks as though I spent my whole time watching the television. I don’t have time for anything else.”

Earlier in the breakfast show, Tom joined in with fellow guests Dexy’s Midnight Runners for a performance of their hit Come On Eileen.

He nodded along to the song but did not break into a full-on dance, despite showing off his moves in a dance with Taylor Swift at the Met Gala on Monday.

He told the Press Association: “I’ve loved dancing as long as I can remember. My mum is a very brilliant musician, she used to play the piano when I was very small, when I was two or three for my sisters.

“We would clear all the sofas to the back wall and she would play for us and we would dance.

“I don’t know whether that means I can dance or not, but I’ve always loved it. And Come On Eileen is a classic.”

This was his first time meeting the Duchess of Cornwall, but not his first royal encounter.

He said: “I met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, they were kind enough to come to the royal premiere of War Horse, so we met then and they’re great.”

The Duchess of Cornwall meets guests at the Radio 2 studio
The Duchess of Cornwall meets guests at the Radio 2 studio (John Stillwell/PA)

500 Words is a creative writing competition for children aged five to 13, which counts Camilla as an honorary judge.

Chris, who chairs the judging panel, said: “The Duchess, she’s a huge fan of children’s writing and literature with children. She loves books, she’s big into education, and she’s passionate.

“Anyone who’s passionate and has got a profile – and I think she’s got one of those – is very welcome.”

The Duchess of Cornwall with Chris Evans as they discuss the 500 Words creative writing competition
The Duchess of Cornwall with Chris Evans as they discuss the 500 Words creative writing competition (John Stillwell/PA)

Camilla and Chris were joined by children’s authors Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell Boyce and Francesca Simon, and screenwriter Charlie Higson for the difficult task of choosing winners from the shortlist, which has already been whittled down from 123,436 entries.

Chris said: “The stories are so good this year. I think they’re better than ever before.”

He added: “I think it’s the lack of Harry Potter, because they’re influenced by what they’re reading. Harry Potter – it’s a bit boring and a bit wizard-y.”

More children are writing about space because of British astronaut Tim Peake
More children are writing about space because of British astronaut Tim Peake (Anthony Devlin/PA)

The judging panel noted an increase in the number of stories about space, which Evans dubbed the “Tim Peake effect”.

The winners will be announced during a live broadcast of the Radio 2 breakfast show from Shakespeare’s Globe later in the month.