CHRISTINE and Mike Belcher have impressed the rich and famous with their wacky balloon sculptures at film premieres and on television.

But the Abingdon entertainers, who have just appeared on national television again, are still committed to entertaining youngsters in their home county.

The pair, who perform with the stage names Twistina and Twistopher, started out making balloon dogs and swords for children at places including the Didcot Railway Centre.

And more than 10 years later, they have twisted balloons for stars including model Elle MacPherson, actor Billy Zane, and television presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

Mrs Belcher said: “I’ve got to go to places that you would normally never get to see, and to meet people you never normally meet.”

The couple appeared on the BBC comedy show Russell Howard’s Good News on Thursday night and created a balloon caricature of the presenter.

And Twistina, 51, who won a balloon twisting world title in 2010, said she had recently been asked to work at fashion events in London.

She also worked at the London premiere of Pixar animated film Cars 2 and they were both asked to entertain celebrities at the premiere of another animated film, Happy Feet 2.

Mrs Belcher said: “It’s an art form.

“Sometimes I can express myself better with balloons then I can with words.

“But I also enjoy is the happiness you bring to people.

“People’s faces light up when you give them a balloon. It takes them back to being a child.

“There is something about balloons that just makes people happy and that rubs off on me.”

Mrs Belcher was a cake decorator for 19 years before joing her husband as a children’s entertainer.

Mr Belcher, 54, who appeared in an episode of hit ITV period drama Downton Abbey filmed in Bampton in 2010 with his Punch and Judy show, said the couple were happy to work with balloons wherever they were asked.

He said: “We enjoy what comes in.

“Expectations are quite low. We always surprise people quite quickly.”

l The couple will be twisting balloons for children at Didcot Railway Centre at the weekend, and at Banbury Steam Rally on June 29 and 30. Twistina will be at Blackwell’s Bookshop in Broad Street, Oxford, for Alice’s Day on Saturday, July 6.