ONE of Cumbria's most popular annual entertainment fixtures has gained an unlikely fan.

Carole Baskin, of 'Tiger King' fame, has announced she will be tuning in to this year's Kendal Calling festival from her home in Florida.

The American big-cat rights activist and CEO of Big Cat Rescue, a non-profit animal sanctuary based near Tampa, rose to prominence earlier this year when she was featured in the Netflix documentary series about Oklahoma-based private zoo operator, Joe Exotic.

Kendal Calling, which is usually held at Lowther Deer Park, near Penrith, has announced it will be broadcasting in the form of a radio programme this year.

The station broadcasts, which will run from 5pm on Thursday until midnight this Sunday, will feature highlights from the festival down the years.

It is due to go live on in the airwaves this week thanks to the launch of a new online radio station, Kendal Calling Radio.

Unsurprisingly, festival organisers pounced on the news earlier today and posted the following quip: 'Be a cool cat like Carole and tune in to Kendal Calling Radio at kendalcallingradio.com".