Illusionist Derren Brown give restaurant staff a shock when popped in for a spot of lunch just hours before the first of his big shows in Carlisle.

The nation’s favourite dark manipulator of magic and mind control brought his latest stage presentation, Derren Brown: Underground , to the city's Sands Centre on Friday and Saturday night.

But before he went to the venue and prepared to get on stage he chose the Shabby Scholar, in Carlyles Court, off Fisher Street, as a replace to relax and refuel.

He decided to go with the eatery's "famous" halloumi wrapped in prosciutto ham for his meal.

Its owner Sam Norman told the News & Star : "He was lovely, a really nice guy. He was sat doing some paperwork and some work on his laptop."

His shows in Carlisle featured a collection of some of the very best of his previous stage work brought together into a spell-binding experience of showmanship and magical genius.

"His crew came back in on Saturday so to drop off a photo for one of our members of staff who I think ended up on the stage with him," added Mr Norman.

The performer has toured every year since 2003 and has been watched by an estimated audience of nearly two million people.

Previously the restaurant has welcomed grime artist Akala.