Full Breakdown
Terry Jones Nude Organist Statue Unveiled in Colwyn Bay
4/26/2026, 12:18:40 AM
Unveiling of the Terry Jones Statue
On Saturday, a life-size bronze statue of Terry Jones was unveiled on the promenade overlooking Colwyn Bay beach in Conwy, north Wales. The work portrays Jones as the nude organist, a recurring Monty Python Flying Circus character, and marks the birthplace of the actor-writer who died in 2020 at age 77 from a rare dementia. Surviving Python members Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam attended; John Cleese and Eric Idle also expressed support.
Fundraising and Support
Jones’s family launched a global fundraising drive that reached its £120,000 target within six months. The appeal was promoted by Emma Thompson, Steve Coogan and Suzy Eddie Izzard, among others, and attracted donations worldwide. Sculptor Nick Elphick, known from the BBC series *Extraordinary Portraits*, was commissioned after consulting the family. The four surviving Python members—Sir Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese and Eric Idle—publicly endorsed the tribute.
Design and Symbolism
The bronze figure stands nude, wearing a flapping tie and wild hair, grinning in the classic organist pose. The organ merges into a writing desk that references Jones’s medieval-history books and other projects, underscoring his multi-faceted career. Elphick described the process as “15-hour days for nearly a year and a half,” aiming to capture a larger-than-life personality while ensuring the smile was “just right for the family.” The statue invites visitors to touch the prominent posterior, making it intentionally interactive.
Official Statements & Responses
Sir Michael Palin said the tribute would be “very funny indeed,” noting that Jones would have been the last person to want a statue but would make an exception for this subversive design. Terry Gilliam praised the work as capturing “the real Terry” and highlighted its playful element. Sculptor Elphick emphasized his perfectionist approach, saying he poured his “heart and soul” into the piece and hopes the public engages with it. The rapid fundraising reflected worldwide admiration for Jones’s contributions to comedy and film.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mike and I were here last year and we talked to the designer and we captured the real Terry,” — Terry Gilliam, Monty Python member
- “We can all fondle his bum, even in death. Children are going to do it and it will be the shiny bit.” — Terry Gilliam, Monty Python member
- “I think he'd find it very funny indeed” — Sir Michael Palin, Monty Python member
- “I'm a perfectionist so I'm never happy, but I know that I've put my heart and soul into it,” — Nick Elphick, Sculptor
- “You will be completely and utterly interactive with him and I think it's going to make some iconic photographs, especially with that big soft bum he's got.” — Nick Elphick, Sculptor
