CUSTOMERS dropping into a Cricklade pub yesterday got the surprise of their lives when they were greeted by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Jamie brought his culinary craft to the garden of the Red Lion, as he filmed scenes for Jamie’s Friday Night Feast.

Accompanied by co-presenter and childhood friend Jimmy Doherty, a sun-tanned Jamie put on a late summer barbecue for amazed visitors.

And there were no turkey twizzlers on the menu this time as the 40-year-old Naked Chef donned a checked shirt and butchers apron to cook a traditional spit-roast.

Crowds of customers watched as Jamie expertly carved the meat with trays of Italian appetisers also laid out on picnic benches.

The top-secret nature of the TV shoot meant visitors stopping by the pub had no idea they were about to run into one of the world’s top chefs in the garden.

Thirsty regulars hoping for a quiet Friday afternoon drink were only met with a sign on the pub’s door warning filming was taking place.

Many visitors were left agape when they were greeted by the top chef in the smoke-filled garden with one woman losing her footing when she saw her idol.

The school dinner champion had many fans in the rural town with guests singing the father-of-four’s praises.

One woman said: “This is just totally random, I come here every Friday afternoon and he’s never been in here before. I thought I’d been drinking too much when I saw him in here. I just can’t believe that Jamie Oliver is stood over there.”

Another said she hoped to get a photo with her home-cookery hero.

“He’s just amazing and I really want to get a selfie with him," she said. "I can’t believe he’s come all the way out here to see us. He’s a superstar and I’m always trying out his recipes. I really hope I can have a chat with him”

Essex boy Jamie is known for his food focused cookery shows, his drive to encourage healthy eating in children and his chain of Italian restaurants.

He rose to fame in 1999 when his TV show The Naked Chef debuted and his first cookbook became a number one bestseller.

He has been awarded an MBE by the Queen and named the most influential person in the hospitality industry for three consecutive years.