Farmer thought sheep's Hollywood invite was a scam

A farmer says he initially thought an invitation for one of his sheep to be part of a Hollywood film starring Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson was a scam.

Will Sully, from Williton, in Somerset, still sent pictures of Norfolk Horn ram Nobby to the producers of The Sheep Detectives, which opened in UK cinemas on Friday.

Nobby was used as the model for twin characters Reggie and Ronnie, voiced by Brett Goldstein, best-known for playing Roy Kent in the Apple TV series Ted Lasso.

Sadly, Nobby died before the film was released, but Sully said: "He was a bit of a diva, but sometimes he could [behave himself]."

Sully said he travelled with Nobby to Pinewood Studios.

"There was no limo, unfortunately, but a trailer," he said.

"We headed down, and from there, we took some pictures in a room with about 50 cameras.

"He was a good boy, but quite a character, a bit like in the film."

In one scene, Reggie and Ronnie headbutt a car.

"That was actually a crewman's leg," said Sully.

"I said sorry, but they said 'no, no', and they encouraged it, so I was chasing this man around with the sheep."

He added: "It looks very like him in the film. I can tell that's Nobby - they got him spot on, and it's incredible what they can do now."

Sully also hopes the film will inspire interest in Norfolk Horn sheep.

"[They are] a rare breed, so any advertisement we can get out there is brilliant," he said.

"They nearly went extinct, and they've been around since the Middle Ages, and it would be a shame to lose them now.

"They're a great breed - calm and easy to handle."

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