Carlisle welcomed a famous face to a recent archaeological dig while he filmed a TV show.

Michael Portillo and the crew from BBC’s Great British Railway Journeys, which he presents, were filming at Carlisle’s cricket ground and the Roman archaeological site which is present.

The former Conservative MP and cabinet member was seen filming in Ulverston, Keswick and Haverthwaite last month. 

John Moffat, the general manager at Swarthmoor Hall, said Mr Portillo met some of the local Quakers.

The hall has been honouring the life of founder George Fox 400 years after his birth. 

"He's up for a week going all over the Lakes," John said. 

"We've just had a big anniversary week, it was on the back of that," he said. John said the TV star was 'very nice and pleasant.'

Along with speaking to the Quakers on Saturday morning, he also covered the history of the hall. 

On the subject of the impact TV shows can have when they are filmed in Cumbria, John said: "I would hope it will show this part of the world to a wider audience who may consider coming." 

Although the production crew did not give John an exact date the show would air, they told him it would be 'next year.' 

Carlisle café John Watt and Son’s owner was 'delighted' to welcome politician turned TV presenter, Michael Portillo, in for a brew this week.

Director of John Watt and Son, Peter Johnston, said: "We were delighted to welcome Micheal to the home of John Watt, where he enjoyed lunch and our espresso which has been roasted in Carlisle to our secret recipe since 1865 when the first shop opened." 

The award-winning ‘Uncovering Roman Carlisle’ (URC) has returned to Carlisle’s Roman Bathhouse for a short mini-archaeological dig, during which archaeologists and volunteers hope to excavate an unexplored part of the site to discover the size of the original bathhouse.

For more information, visit https://www.uncoveringromancarlisle.co.uk/.