Brian Cox and Brian Cox involved in hotel check-in mishap

Physicist Brian Cox struggled to check into a hotel because actor Brian Cox was already staying there.

The Scottish actor is known for playing Logan Roy in Succession, while the professor is a former musician turned professor of particle physics famed for presenting the BBC's Wonders Of The Solar System.

The two Brians described a mishap they had been involved in yesterday when they attempted to check into the same hotel ahead of appearing on BBC Breakfast today.

Check-in mishap

After presenter Charlie Stayt said "sometimes sharing a name can be a bit confusing," actor Brian Cox described the confusion over their shared name.

"Well, last night was very confusing," the 76-year-old said.

"Because (Prof) Brian arrived at the hotel and (they) said there are two Brian Coxes, so you've got two rooms.

"And he said, 'no, no, there's only one, but I think there might be another Brian Cox' and the hotel said to Brian, 'we can't have two Brian Coxes'."

To which Professor Brian Cox, 54, added: "They wouldn't check me in!"

The Succession star continued: "They wouldn't check him in, so he had to use his assistant's name."

Professor Brian Cox said: "I had to change my name. They couldn't do it on their computer system. They didn't believe me!

"And I got a picture up on my phone and said 'Look, this is Brian Cox, he'll be coming later, and then this one…' and he said, 'I know neither of you, I don't watch television'."

Star initially 'irked' by namesake

Thespian Brian Cox previously revealed he was initially "irked" by his namesake after the pair were nearly mixed up on a restaurant reservation.

When both Brians sat down with The Guardian earlier this year, the Shakespearean actor said: "It annoyed me initially - but has been such a great lesson - to find someone who is extraordinarily successful with the same name as me.

"It irked me at first, then I thought, it's not important."