Tom Cruise enjoys company of a random selection of Britain's celebrities at birthday meal for Michael Caine

They had the nostalgia of 1988 and filming on the set of Cocktail to reminisce over, Tom Cruise and Michael Caine being reunited this week for Michael's 90th birthday meal was less of a surprise friendship than might first appear.

While the movie may not have stood the test of time, unless watching in an ironic way counts, the friendship between the two actors clearly has. Michael and Tom were not only in Cocktail together, they also appeared in Austin Powers in Goldmember in 2002. They've clearly enjoyed hanging out on set over the years.

Tom Cruise, fresh off the 'avoid Oscars and ex-wife at all costs' boat, took time out from his official business in the UK of filming for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part II, and was wining and dining with faces very familiar to British TV audiences.

Denise Welch, of daytime TV chat show Loose Women, and an actress from Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Soldier Soldier and Dead Canny, regaled Michael and Tom with jokes that are over the usual TV watershed timings. She had the Hollywood actors in stitches of laughter and clearly knows how to work a room to create fun.

The video, posted on Denise's Instagram, shows a dining table lined with Michael's friends, with Tom appearing on his left side. Denise's husband, the artist, Lincoln Townley, introduced the pair as Michael is a huge fan of the artist's work. In the background of the video, Lincoln can be heard saying after his wife's crude joke lands well with the audience, "I live with her."

David Walliams, of comedy sketches, talent show judging and book writing fame, also shared his own medley of images from Michael's meal and his special guest of Tom. David posted on Instagram and wished Michael a happy birthday, leading with an image of Michael and Tom together.

The man that is Tom Cruise, a complex figure of action man and stunt hero of the screen, executive producer on a range of his work, credited with helping to get big budget films back up and running as the pandemic eased its grip, and also a leading figure in the controversial church of Scientology. A man unlucky in love, or who smothers his women in Scientology ideology? We'll never know, though could hazard a guess.

The intensity Tom brings to his roles, which has seen him amass a fortune, has also brought him a range of friends and fans. How Tom can tell the difference between a friend and a fan may be tricky. He maybe also doesn't care. Shouldn't our friends be our biggest fans?

For a huge film star like Tom, it must be difficult to have friends who see you for the mere mortal that you are. Instead, glitzy-eyed celebrities - already known for work in their own right - must feel dazzled by the bright strobing light of Tom's omniscient reputation.

He's a god of cinema, as well as reportedly being lined up to be the next leader of Scientology.

It's no surprise then that Tom has been photographed with some of the great and the good from various walks of British life.

Tom and Sir Jackie Stewart

The racing car legend, Sir Jackie Stewart, has enjoyed meeting a hero of Hollywood when photographed with Tom.

Tom and Kate Middleton/Prince and Princess of Wales

Royalty must be one of the few occasions when Tom feels nervous and he certainly seemed eager to impress Catherine and William, when attending the London premiere of his film.

They may have connected on a film set, but Tom and Simon seem to enjoy each other's company as they are seen laughing and joking around on many red carpet and press junkets.