MILLIONS of television viewers are to get a glimpse of the Lake District's most iconic views next week with a new series.

Celebrity impersonator Rory Bremner is set to take ITV Daytime viewers on a journey around Britain in a collection of 20, hour long travel shows.

The first episode of Rory Bremner's Great British Views is to be broadcast at 2pm on April 15 on ITV.

Rory takes a trip to Honister Slate Mine near Keswick, a paddle on Derwentwater with Keswick Canoe & Bushcraft and a barefoot walk with Alison O'Neill, the Cumbrian Shepherdess, near Coniston.

The impressionist visited The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop with Joanne Hunter, who runs the 159-year-old business with husband Andrew, saying: “He was totally charming and great fun to work with.

During his time in the Lakes, Rory, calls in at Honister, the last working slate mine in England, which is at the summit of the country's fourth steepest road.

At the mine, he discovers how Honister is keeping alive slate mining under the guidance of Borrowdale's Joe Weir, the old brother of the late Lake District businessman, Mark Weir.

Rory also walks to the summit of neighbouring 2,126ft Fleetwith Pike to take in one of the most stunning views in the country; overlooking the Buttermere Valley.

He also discovers the beauty of Derwentwater with Keswick Canoe & Bushcraft and spends time with Alison O’Neill, the shepherdess, walking around Yew Tree Farm, Coniston, on a ‘secrets of a shepherdess walk'.

Rory said: "One of the greatest views was high up above the slate mine at Honister in the Lakes – their ‘little treasure’ as they described it."

Rory also recreated a famous Victorian photograph of Sarah Nelson.

In the old black and white picture Sarah, who invented Grasmere Gingerbread in 1854, can be seen sitting on a chair staring straight ahead, not unlike the famous painting Whistler’s Mother.

“Rory recreated the pose, sitting on the original chair and looking across over St Oswald’s Churchyard which adjoins our shop,” explained Joanne.

“I’ve always been a fan but having actually met Rory I like him even more - he’s a very warm and thoughtful person.”