Monty Python enthusiasts can now rub the backside of a new bronze statue honoring late comedian Terry Jones for good luck. The sculpture, depicting Jones as the iconic nude organist from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, debuted in his hometown of Colwyn Bay, north Wales.
Family Invites Cheeky Tradition
Sally Jones, daughter of the star who passed away in 2020, welcomes fans to interact with the statue. “People can come and sit down on the bench next to him. They can put their hands on the piano,” she stated on Radio 4’s Today programme. “They can see every element of the statue. And hopefully people will enjoy it and possibly rub his bum for luck.”
Michael Palin, Jones’s longtime Monty Python collaborator, praised the figure’s “wonderfully generous bottom” as a fitting emblem for the beloved town.
Lively Unveiling Ceremony
Thousands attended the weekend reveal, where Palin and fellow co-star Terry Gilliam led the crowd in singing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Palin, Gilliam, and frequent collaborator Carol Cleveland became the first to touch the statue’s backside.
Palin described Jones as “loyal,” “funny,” and “bright,” highlighting his many virtues.
Statue’s Creation and Support
Sculptor Nick Elphick from nearby Llandudno crafted the piece in consultation with Jones’s family. Fans worldwide raised over £120,000, with backing from John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Emma Thompson, Steve Coogan, and Suzy Eddie Izzard.
Elphick refined Jones’s smile through ten expressions and hopes rubbing the backside sparks a new local tradition. “I hope I have done him justice,” he said. “I feel like I’m the luckiest sculptor ever.”
The family selected the nude organist pose to avoid a dull portrayal, aiming to comfort those affected by dementia, the rare form that claimed Jones at age 77.
Jones’s Ties to Colwyn Bay
Born in Colwyn Bay, Jones left at age five but maintained strong links, serving as patron of Theatre Colwyn and aiding its 2011 renovation. He co-wrote and co-directed classics like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life, and collaborated with Palin on Ripping Yarns.
Dilwyn Price, chairman of Conwy Arts Trust, called the statue a lasting tribute to Jones’s Welsh roots and Colwyn Bay heritage.
