TV presenter Michael Portillo was spotted filming at a town's historic pier.

The former Conservative cabinet member turned broadcaster arrived in Gravesend on the ferry from Tilbury yesterday morning.

He was in the county for about 20 minutes at around 8am before taking the boat back over to Essex.

Avid photographer Geoffrey Watson happened to be at Town Pier when Mr Portillo started filming alongside a director, sound engineer and cameraman.

He said it took the presenter three takes to get his speech about post-war Britain and the Empire Windrush completed.

"I was just photographing some ships and he just turned up," Geoffrey said. "It was a bit of a surprise."

This is not the first time Mr Portillo has been in North Kent.

In 2019, an episode of Great British Railway Journeys saw him visit both Dartford and Gravesend where he discovered the origins of netball and gymslips and was impressed by the pilots of the Port of London Authority.

And way back in 2013, he captained the ferry over from Essex as he discussed the train service which used to run to the West Street Pier, linking up trains with ships on the river.

A spokesman for Jetstream Ferry confirmed Mr Portillo was at the pontoon but could not disclose what he was filming at this time.