A DRAIN enthusiast has made his first national TV appearance in a feature called "Meet Britain's Dullest Men".

Archie Workman has become a well-known figure in the South Lakes as a parish lengthsman and released a calender of his favourite drain covers in 2014, which proved hugely popular.

He has now starred on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch, sporting striking red camouflage trousers, a hi-vis jumper, and a cap which read "I Love Dull Men".

Archie eloquently entertained hosts Steph McGovern and Simon Rimmer with tales of his role, which he says dates back to medieval times and have been recently resurrected by parish councils.

"To look after the back roads, the B-roads, the C-roads, and unclassified roads, to clear the drains, cut back vegetation, and clean the roadsigns, and the pay me - I get to work in the South Lakes," he said.

"I think there's a lot of art in these (drain) covers, and a lot of skill gone into it - the guy who designed them, the person who made the pattern, who cast them, and the fettler, who takes the sharp edges off - there are no two that are the same."

Archie brought in his favourite drain cover, dating back to the 1800s, which he found in a hedge.

He said: "I get pictures of drain covers sent by people on holiday saying 'I saw this and thought of you, Archie.'

"The heritage, the street furniture that's around - people don't look down, and they're walking past pieces of art, really."

Archie was joined by Andy, a man who plans to visit all 10,449 parishes in the UK, an obsession which started during lockdown. He is currently on 410.

Andy estimates it will take him round 30 years to complete his mission.

Also joining them was James, whose vacuum-cleaner obsession began at age four, and now holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest collection of vacuum cleaners, which is officially 322, but which he claims is "quite a lot more than that".

He was particularly effusive about his favourite brand, the Kirby, which he said: "They have kept their performance and quality, but kept their styling and classic look."

Archie also rounded the feature off by speaking for the trio: "Everybody here today is really celebrating something ordinary."