A brilliantly “subversive” statue of Monty Python star Terry Jones was unveiled yesterday on the beach, near his hometown of Colwyn Bay.
Hundreds turned out in glorious sunshine after £120,000 was raised to immortalise the comic genius in bronze, created by Llandudno sculptor NIck Elphick.
A GoFundMe campaign, called “Python on the Prom”, was launched in 2024 by Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam. They returned to the North Wales seaside resort yesterday, where they announced plans to memorialise their friend and fellow Monty Python member on the Bay’s promenade.
Jones died in 2020 aged 77 from a rare form of dementia and his family backed the fundraising campaign to cast him as the nude organist, a recurring character played by Jones in Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Sir Michael Palin hailed Jones as a “brilliant man in so many ways”.
The statue of Terry Jones was unveiled on Colwyn Bay beach yesterday(Image: John Williams )
He told the BBC the late star would find the tribute “very funny indeed”. Fellow Python Terry Gilliam also attended the unveiling of the statue on Saturday.
He said: “Mike and I were here last year and we talked to the designer and we captured the real Terry.
“We can all fondle his bum, even in death. Children are going to do it and it will be the shiny bit.”
The statue of Monty Python star Terry Jones overlooking the beach at his his hometown of Colwyn Bay(Image: John Williams)
Sir Michael added: “It’s a great tribute. I know it’s a bit silly to have a statue of a comedian, but knowing it’s something Terry would like, a subversive statue, I’m quite pleased about that.”
Sir Michael Palin (left) and Terry Gilliam launching the A Python on the Prom fundraising appeal for a statue of their fellow former Monty Python comedy team member Terry Jones in Colwyn Bay (Image: David Powell)
Two other surviving Python members, John Cleese and Eric Idle, also supported the campaign.
The fundraising campaign attracted the support of a host of stars over the last two years including Suzy Eddie Izzard, Emma Thompson and Steve Coogan. The £120,000 target was hit within six months.
Llandudno sculptor Nick Elphick, who regularly appears in the BBC series Extraordinary Portraits, created the design after consulting Jones’ family.
He said the most challenging aspect was representing a larger-than-life character while making sure his smile was “just right for the family”.
He added: “I’ve done literally 15-hour days for nearly a year and a half now, so I’m hoping that people love him.”
Llandudno sculptor Nick Elphick with an early maquette model to capture the likeness of comedian and actor Terry Jones. The sculptor has been commissioned to make a larger, bronze sculpture of the Colwyn Bay actor which will be installed on Colwyn Bay prom. (Image: UGC)
If yesterday was anything to go by, then that goal has already been achieved. One Old Colwyn resident said: “There was a fantastic atmosphere as locals and Python fans alike joined in the fun and silliness you’d expect with anything to do with Monty Python.
“It was great to see one of Colwyn Bay’ famous sons welcomed and celebrated so enthusiastically by what seemed to be a crowd of hundreds. The statue captures the irreverent spit of Python perfectly. It’ll be a huge draw to the town as people want to grab a selfie of themselves next to the naked organist.
“I went back to the statue site hours after the unveiling and there was still a buzz about the place with crowds gathering to grab the first photos of the Python on the prom. Locals will remember this day for a long time to come.”
Several hundred turned out at the beach in Colwyn Bay to watch the unveiling of the statue of Monthy Pythin star Terry Jones(Image: John Williams )
Jones performed in, co-wrote and directed two Monty Python films: The Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. He co-directed The Holy Grail with Gilliam.
In 2024 Sir Michael told North Wales Live Jones’ unshakeable “Welshness” never left him and gave him his sense of identity shaped his life, career and comedy even under the intense teasing of another Python legend John Cleese.
Sir MIchael said: “He was always very strong-willed about it. And I think his Welshness gave him that sort of feeling that he was right! That’s the way he’d see it.
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