By Gillian Ellison

Last updated 16:04, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

COMEDY king Frank Skinner was in St Bees on Friday.

top form: Frank Skinner at Platform 9 in St Bees with Kayleigh Schwarzer and head chef Martin Allison

He called in at Platform 9 restaurant for a meal with a friend before setting off on the Coast to Coast walk on Saturday.

The stand-up star was full of his usual gags as he chatted to staff and diners after his meal.

Stuart Goodfellow, proprietor of the restaurant, said he had enjoyed the meal and said the toilets were the best he’d seen!

“He was a really nice bloke, very sociable, very laid back and full of his jokes,” said Stuart.

“They had all local food – herdwick lamb and Cumberland sausage.”

Head chef Martin Allison and sous chef Kevin Fazakerley both enjoyed talking to him about one of his favourite subjects – football.

Kevin said: “I asked Mr Skinner his views on the fact that his team, West Bromwich Albion, had earlier that day signed our local lad Scott Carson.

“He said it was a brilliant signing for his club.”

The star of The Frank Skinner Show, Fantasy Football and Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned stayed at Fairladies Guest House in the village on Friday night.