Legendary broadcaster Sir David Attenborough spent a day filming at a historic Macclesfield mill.

The 87-year-old presenter spent the day at Paradise Mill talking about silk.

The clips will feature in a forthcoming Sky TV series, Natural Curiosities, which explores nature’s most amazing, baffling and fascinating animals.

Camera crews chose the stunning backdrop of the mill, on Park Lane, which operated as a silk weavers between 1912 and 1981 and is now an award-winning museum.

During the episode, which has a working title Weavers and Spinners, Sir David talks about the history of silk production and its romantic beginnings in China.

He is also joined by Simon Peers who produces textile from Madagascar’s golden orb spiders.

Annabel Willis, curator at the museum, said she felt honoured Sir David had chosen the mill for filming.

She said: “Sir David is a lovely chap and very friendly. Despite the long day filming in the mill he remained patient.

“It was amazing seeing him work. He’s an iconic figures in broadcasting and it was a pleasure to have him here. It was fantastic advert for the mill that it was chosen as the backdrop to filming.”

Sir David took a huge interest in the museum, enjoying a tour of the building before signing the guest book.

While the museum kept Sir David’s presence top secret to prevent him being mobbed by fans it didn’t stop starstruck museum staff from convincing him to pose for a few pictures between takes.

Sir David was also allowed use of the authentic 1930s office in the mill to rework his scripts.

The programme, which is being produced by Humble Bee Films, is due to be shown on the Eden channel next January.

Broadcaster undergoes heart surgery to fit pacemaker

Veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has undergone surgery to insert a pacemaker.

A spokesman for the 87-year-old naturalist, who was forced to cancel a sell-out speaking tour of Australia because of the "urgent" procedure, said doctors believed that the TV star was doing well.

He said: "Sir David has now had the operation and his doctors are satisfied with his progress."

Earlier, he said that the TV documentary-maker, who has been named Britain's greatest living national treasure, was still his "lively self".

"It's a minor procedure but it meant that he cannot go on a 27-hour flight to Australia," he said.

"He's very disappointed that he can't fulfill the tour but it's nothing to be alarmed about. He's seeing his doctor now but he's still his lively self."