AH celebrity life is tough these days. I have agreed to meet up with Anthony Chalmers and Isobel ‘Twizzle’ Trilling, ahead of their upcoming Lowry Theatre show where they will be speaking candidly about their extensive showbiz careers.

But as we sit down for lunchy-poos, they just can’t seem to stop being pestered – by fans clamouring for an autograph, or from their agent ringing Tony’s mobile to broker megabucks (or, as it transpires, £50) deals for supermarket openings.

In case you’re wondering, yes they are a spoof double act – rather in the mould of a certain Richard & Judy – but for the purposes of our lunch meeting we’re staying strictly in character.

Tony and Twizzle are a colourful pair – not least in their choice of attire and Tony’s glowing Magaluf-tanned skin.

“It’s non-stop, non-stop,” Tony moans. “You’re lucky we could fit you in, quite frankly.”

We all choose salmon from the menu at the Lowry’s Terrace Restaurant – although Tony has started his liquid lunch already with a bottle of red wine.

Twizzle whispers: “Tony’s had a little bit of a drink problem.” Although I half suspect it might be Ribena rather than rioja that he’s slurping.

The showbiz couple, it turns out, are friends with any celebrity I might care to mention. Twizzle even chirrups: “We are great friends with LS Lowry. She is a lovely woman, gorgeous.”

Showbiz careers

The couple tell me their show will be a “warts-and-all” look back at their fabulous showbiz careers, right from Twizzle’s start in 1960s Victorian drama They’ve Got A Lot Up Top.

Theatre-goers will even be able to pose their own questions in the show, which is the latest project from award-winning Chorlton-based comedy duo LipService.

Tony explains: “We are such superstars it’s in the public interest that we do this show.

“The LipService girls are awfully nice,” he says with a wink.

It must be difficult, I suggest to Twizzle, with the paparazzi stalking them from the moment they get up in the morning to keep up her polished appearance.

“Oh, I don’t wear make-up,” says Twizzle completely deadpan – resting a hand on her heavily rouged face.

“People say that I look about 26. I put it down to my range of fitness DVDs and a facial exercise DVD called Twitching with Twizzle.”

Tony’s phone trills again and yet another autograph hunter squeezes his face to the window to take the couple’s picture. “It really is non-stop,” a beaming Tony yells to me again.

And with that the pair are whisked off to their next appearance – to a launch for their show in a celebrity wheelie bin, no less. But not before Tony beams to our friendly waiter Mike: “I’d give you a big tip, but Dianne’s paying.” Now that’s a true celebrity!

Tony and Twizzle, The Glory Years, is at The Lowry Theatre from September 8-13. For tickets call 0870 787 5793 or see thelowry.com. Tweet