Available for parties, fetes and shows... at pounds 1,500 an appearance

NOT SINCE the heyday of Pinky and Perky and Miss Piggy have hogs been this big in show business. The Tamworth Two, who became superstars after their famous escape from an abattoir in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, last January, have organised a series of appearances for a national tour.

Butch and Sundance are commanding pounds 1,500 fees from agricultural shows across Britain. Their first gig will be later this month at the Three Counties Show in Malvern, Worcestershire.

They are taking their new role seriously. No pot bellies for these ginger boars. Fitness training is afforded by a luxury sty with outdoor grassy run, wallowing area and canopy to guard against sunstroke. Despite an insensitively placed bacon butty stall opposite, they are thought to be unlikely to break up their accommodation or drive a Rolls-Royce into the pool. But they will be subject to security in case they try to go their own way again.

The chief executive of the show, Chris Milne, is especially pleased to have secured Butch and Sundance. "We're an agricultural show and we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously. We thought families would find the Tamworth Two both amusing and relevant to farm life. The show has never had any celebrities before apart from government ministers and our royal visitors."

The show starts on 16 June and the organisers hope to break the record of just over 100,000 visitors. The Tamworth Two should help to fill the pens.

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