The Empress pops her trotters

The porcine star of BBC comedy-drama Blandings, The Empress, has died.

The Middle White sow died just before the final episode of the series, based on PG Wodehouse’s stories, aired.

The pig had been living with her co-star Queenie in the grounds of Crom Castle, County Fermanagh, where the show was filmed.

Timothy Spall who plays Lord Clarence Emsworth, told the BBC he was ‘very upset’ to hear the news.

‘She was by far the most flatulent member of the cast and believe me, she had a lot of competition,’ he said. ‘I never knew her real name, but that doesn't mean I didn't have a lot of affection for her.’

It is believed that the pig had suffered a fatal heart attack.

BBC executive producer Kristian Smith said: ‘We were very lucky to have found such a characterful and humorous pig.’

The series also starred Jennifer Saunders, David Walliams and Jack Farthing.

Published: 25 Feb 2013