Silver surfer Peter Oakley filmed a joke demonstration of how to cook a microwaveable meal at his Peak District home and posted it on the YouTube website at the end of October.

And by this week the film – called Response to Cookalong the Geriatric Way – had been watched 75,411 times, 3,000 times more than Gordon Ramsey's official video.

The 81-year-old was pleased so many people were enjoying his video, and hoped it would encourage more older people to embrace the internet.

Peter said: "So many older people are afraid of new technology and computers, but they wouldn't be if they could see all the benefits they can get.

"When I came across YouTube back in 2006 I thought nobody would take an interest in some bumbling old man, as the people on there are so young.

"So I suppose it was fortunate or unfortunate that the media saw that an old man had done this," he added.

Peter, who uses the internet nickname The Geriatric1927, has become a cult online celebrity since joining YouTube in 2006.

His first video has been watched over 2.7million times and he has released an album with his pensioners pop band, The Zimmers.

And YouTube bosses invited Peter to meet the Queen at Google's head offices in London last month.

Response to Cookalong the Geriatric Way shows Peter sipping white wine while waiting for his ready-made chicken casserole to warm.

Peter said: "Making these videos is only a hobby, but it has led to many other things such as meeting the Queen which of course was a great honour."

To watch Peter's video, click here.