Tisdale's ride dented Hunnam's pride

Charlie Hunnam's pride in his bike-riding skills on Sons of Anarchy was short-lived when guest star Ashley Tisdale took a step away from Disney.

The former High School Musical star has a guest role as a hooker in season five of the biker drama.

"I had no idea who she was although I'm a big Disney fan," Hunnam admitted during a set visit in Los Angeles.

In one scene Tisdale's character needs to be rescued by top outlaw Jackson "Jax" Teller (Hunnam), who whisks her away on the back of his bike.

A long-time bike rider, he prides himself on not using the "tow rig" - a mechanism to keep the rider safe - during shooting.

"But because Ashley was on the show and was a ginormous movie star we couldn't put her on the back of the bike, so I had to be on a tow rig with her."

That led to extra embarrassment for Hunnam, as it was also the day photographers turned up to follow Tisdale around.

"And so the only time I had ever been on the tow rig was the only time the paparazzi were ever on the set."

* Sons of Anarchy season five is fast-tracked to showcase on Wednesdays from 5pm and prime time on Sunday at 8.30pm.