Lorraine Kelly fires One O'Clock Gun... five seconds early

A mortified Lorraine put her hands to her face in shock, as soldiers and journalists fell about laughing at the blunder.

"I'm really sorry," she said. "Can we do it again?"

Lorraine was helicoptered in to the city's Calton Hill for a unique double firing of the gun, one on the hill and the other in its usual place on the castle ramparts.

But as the countdown reached five seconds, a nervous Kelly accidentally pulled the trigger.

She explained afterwards: "I was just so excited, I couldn't help myself.

"As soon as he said 'five' I jumped and just fired it by accident."

The star was in Edinburgh to help publicise next weekend's Armed Forces Day.

Lorraine, who confessed she always dreamt of being in the forces when she was a little girl, took off from RAF Leuchers, Fife.

After being winched down, she was greeted by military commanders, service personnel, veterans and Edinburgh's Lord Provost.

She said: "I've had such a brilliant morning, apart from getting ahead of myself a bit with the gun.

"Arriving in helicopter was just amazing. I always wanted to be in the forces when I was wee, so I absolutely loved it," she said.

She added: "Armed Forces Day is very special for me. It just gives us all the chance to say thank you to the service men and women out on duty and the veterans which is something we don't normally get the opportunity to do."

"It's especially important at this time to be able to thank everyone involved in the services and I'm really excited about the event."