WEYMOUTH and Portland's growing reputation as a TV and film-friendly destination was boosted with visits by two high-profile presenters.
Celebrity chef and top restaurateur Marco Pierre White turned heads as he filmed an episode for a new series about British food.
Marco accompanied local fishermen on their boat and netted a lobster for the pot.
Back on dry land, he savoured some of the sights around Weymouth Harbour before taking his sons Luciano and Marco Junior for a fish and chip meal at the Seagull Café in Trinity Street, where manager Russell Diggins was delighted to welcome the family.
He said: "I'm an admirer of his so it was extra special to cook for him. It didn't faze me at all because I've been cooking for 20 years."
Mr Diggins added: "It was nice to get some attention on this side of the harbour too because
people tend to forget about the traders over here."
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The scenes were filmed for Marco's Great British Feast which will be shown on ITV1 in June.
Also in town was presenter Julia Bradbury who was filming for a new series called Railroad Walks about Britain's forgotten railways. It is a follow-up to the hugely popular Wainwright Walks shown on BBC2 last year.
Julia Bradbury at Portland
“There is a direct benefit to the local economy because the crews have to eat and sleep somewhere but it also attracts film tourists. Weymouth and Portland is a flagship authority as far as South West Screen is concerned because of the way we deal with film companies.”
Jacqui Gisborne
Julia and her crew followed the path of the Weymouth to Portland railway over the Rodwell Trail and up the hill to Easton.
Jacqui Gisborne, communications manager for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, who helps to co-ordinate the visits, said filming helped boost the town's profile.
She said: "There is a direct benefit to the local economy because the crews have to eat and sleep somewhere but it also attracts film tourists. Weymouth and Portland is a flagship authority as far as South West Screen is concerned because of the way we deal with film companies."
She said a CBeebies television crew will be in town next month and the area could be the setting for an Italian magazine fashion shoot. Harpers & Queen magazine commissioned a similar shoot in the area last year.
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