The Lakes on prime time TV
Watch Ian Stephens CEO Cumbria Tourism on ITV Granada News talking on The Lakes TV series.
A new 12 part television series is being tipped to add a timely boost to tourism in Cumbria in the official countdown to the 2010 holiday season.
Presented by Cumbria convert Rory McGrath, 'The Lakes' started on Monday 4th January and will be running every Monday evening at 8pm on ITV 1 for the next 12 weeks.
The first episode averaged 4.8 million viewers, attracting a larger audience than the last ever Celebrity Big Brother!
It follows a number of colourful Lake District and Cumbrian characters like the Windermere-based Langdale Chase Hotel manager Thomas Noblett and his wife Clare.
Also featured are High Adventure Hot Air Balloon company, who take a young couple soaring above the peaks for a high altitude proposal.
The 12-part prime time slot is being hailed by Cumbria Tourism as a massive boost in helping to profile the Lake District and Cumbria to millions of potential visitors ahead of the important 2010 holiday season.
It focuses on holidays at home, highlighting the importance of tourism to Cumbria and how it affects the day to day lives of hoteliers, farmers, attraction owners and locals.
Filmed during last summer, the series highlights a range of events and festivals through the eyes of some fascinating local workers and business people, in what promises to be an amusing and heart warming programme showing how the people of Cumbria survive on the all important tourist trade.
Throughout the 12 weeks, the series will feature Thomas and Clare Noblett along with Patrick Gordon Duff Pennington, the owner of Muncaster Castle; Guinness World Record holder, George Taylor; Barrister turned farmer, Thomas Ballentyne Dyke and his wife Lynne; tea room owners Amanda and Kevin Davies, plus many more including wardens and rangers.
Tourism bosses in Cumbria are hoping the programme will help encourage visitors to return to the Lakes and Cumbria after a downturn in tourism following the floods of November last year.
Ian Stephens, Chief Executive of Cumbria Tourism, said: "This series is a great opportunity to put the Lake District and Cumbria into the homes of millions of potential visitors every week to showcase the dedication of the 35,000 individuals who work hard each year to ensure that visitors to Cumbria have an enjoyable and memorable stay.
"It really could not have aired at a more valuable time. Over the course of the 12 weeks, viewers will have an opportunity to see some of Cumbria's most recognised sights and also some of the lesser known areas and we are thrilled to have had this opportunity."
If you missed the first of the programme's, or you want to view it again, click here www.itv.com and go to ITV Player.
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