A Windermere bed and breakfast owner has won the praise of a TV personality who visited to help turn his business around.

David Maloney, 63, played host to Alex Polizzi for an episode of The Hotel Inspector which was broadcast on Channel 5 last night.

The ex-accountant, who split from his long term partner six years ago, earned substantial praise from Mrs Polizzi, who said he was both “clever” and “incredibly charming”.

“We need to get him out more, he’s very self-deprecating,” said Mrs Polizzi, who comes from a long line of hoteliers, her grandfather being Lord Forte who created a worldwide empire of restaurants and hotels.

“David has a great character and it’s been a pleasure to work for him.

“My heart sank when I first came here. There are so many bed and breakfasts in Windermere and his was very old-fashioned, but the more I’ve visited the place the more affectionate I’ve felt about it.”

Mr Maloney hosted the seven-strong film crew over the winter season, when he said business at Brendan Chase bed and breakfast was “worryingly slow”.

“When I first came here in 2003 we were fully booked right through the winter.

"Now there are vacancies everywhere and most of my customers are no longer from the UK, but from Japan and China.

“Having Alex here has been very educational. I live alone and it’s very difficult to come up with innovative ideas.

"You can get stuck in a rut, so it’s been nice to have another view.”

Mrs Polizzi warned that accommodation providers across the country were reporting a disconcerting dip in trade.

“Cumbria can’t rely on Brits going on a “staycation” to keep them in business.

“It’s cheaper for a family to go to Turkey now than stay in the UK for a holiday.

“Hoteliers are nervous - and a solution to vacancies has to be figured out on a case-by-case basis.”