Gary Lineker returns to Leicester to film BBC TV's Who Do You Think You Are?

Gary Lineker visited his old stomping ground this week to film for a TV family history show.

The Match of the Day presenter and former England and Leicester City striker is in the early stages of filming an episode of BBC TV's Who Do You Think You Are?

Gary tweeted: "In Leicester filming #WDYTYA and that's about all I'm allowed to say other than it's more like Siberia."

Responding to fellow tweeters, who asked when the show was due on air, he said: "Late summer."

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When asked if programme- makers researched family histories before celebrities took part, he replied: "Yes, for about five months."

He joked later: "Such a long day filming #whodoyou thinkyouare I've forgotten who I am."

People were keen to have their photos taken with the star when they spotted him. One fan, Darryl McCabe, tweeted a photo of his wife with Gary.

During his visit, Gary also popped into the Joiners Arms, in Bruntingthorpe, for lunch, where staff were delighted to greet him and members of the film crew on Wednesday.

Restaurant managers Chris Martin and Rosie Ingall are looking after the pub while owners Stephen and Tracey Fitzpatrick are on holiday skiing.

Rosie said: "I didn't recognise him at first because it's not something you expect to happen.

"He came in with five or six of the crew and stayed for about an hour. It's lovely he decided to eat at the pub and he seemed to enjoy himself.

"Our chef, Gary Mercer, went to ask if everything was okay with his food and decided to ask him for a quick photo, too, which he was more than happy to oblige with.

"He looked really good – even better than on television. You can tell he keeps himself fit.

"Gary had some soup and lemon sole before he left to carry on filming."

A picture of chef Gary with the football star has now been placed on the pub's Facebook page, with the tongue-in-cheek caption: "Gary gets to meet the person he is named after when he came for lunch."

Gary Lineker was unavailable for comment yesterday.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We don't discuss our productions until they're in the transmission period."