A TV programme filmed on Piel Island was due to be aired in August 2011.

Timothy Spall: Back at Sea was to be broadcast on BBC4.

Mr Spall, who starred in Auf Wiedersehen Pet and the Harry Potter films, was on the island filming in June 2010.

King of Piel Steve Chattaway said it had been nice to meet Mr Spall and his wife, Shane

The programme saw Mr Spall and his wife travelling the British Isles on their barge, the Princess Matilda, meeting people and exploring the country.

With a small contingent of just two cameramen, Mr Spall stayed the night at Piel’s Ship Inn.

Princess of Piel and Mr Chattaway’s daughter, Nicola Chattaway, spent a lot of time with Mr Spall during his stay, showing him around the island.

At the time of his visit, she said: “It was brilliant.

"He was such a nice man.

"It’s amazing to have a proper Hollywood actor here.

“We tried to treat him like any other visitor to Piel.

“Some people in the pub recognised him but left him in peace, which was nice.”

Nicola was very excited to see an actor from one of her favourite films.

She said: “He has been in loads of films; The Last Samurai, Sweeney Todd, and Enchanted.

"It was great to meet him. I kept thinking, ‘It’s Nathaniel’ (from Enchanted).”

Nicola said Mr Spall really explored the island. She said: "We went to pick up one of the cameramen at Roa Island and did some filming on the water.

"It was really weird to see his big 50ft Dutch barge at Piel. It's a big machine.

"He wanted to meet the pigs and the lambs. He was so friendly."

In 1982 The Mail visited Piel Island to talk to some of the scores of people who camped on the island each year.

They included Margaret and Sam Turner and their daughter Louise, of Napier Street, Barrow. "We really enjoy it," said Margaret. "There is water skiing and fishing or just lounging about in the sun."