WHEN the producers of hit ITV period drama Downton Abbey couldn’t find a prize-winning pig worthy of the show’s star Lady Mary they knew just where to turn.

And on Sunday a four-year-old Oxford sandy and black pig called Butts Farm Clare, owned by Judy Hancox, will fill the TV screens of millions of viewers as she makes her TV debut.

Going under the stage name of the Empress of Downton, the new mother of seven piglets from The Butts Farm Rare Breeds farm in South Cerney, was selected as the show-stopping sow that Lady Mary takes to the Malton Fat Stock Show.

The scenes for Sunday’s episode were filmed in March and April of this year, and saw Judy travel to Lacock with 17 sheep, ten pigs and nine cattle after she received a call out of the blue seeking “a jolly big pig”.

“I have said to all of my friends that if they recognise me I will never be speaking to them again as I didn’t look – how can I put it? - quite as glamorous as I would have liked,” said Judy.

“I had to wear gloves as I had painted my nails, and had to wear a hat – the most dreadful hat you have ever seen.

“They told me they would do my make-up, but all they did was remove my foundation and didn’t put anything else on – they obviously wanted the red and bloodshot look.

"The next day I was more prepared for it and as they got their tissues out I said ‘the foundation stays’.”

Judy said: “I got on so well with all of the actors, they were all lovely so sweet and charming.

“We didn’t meet the Dowager, because she was having tea with a friend and didn’t go to the show but pretty much everyone else was there.

"The children were so lovely, they say never to work with children or animals, but we had both and they were a delight.

“I cannot wait to see it on Sunday, it will actually be quite relaxing as all of the hard work is done now.”