Miranda Hart has officially unveiled the first ever collection of Comic Relief Donation Statues, exhibited in London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall.
Honorary art expert Miranda was displayed in all her statuesque glory, accompanied by nine fellow larger-than-life statues of some of Comic Relief’s best loved funny faces and comedy supporters.
These one of a kind, state of the art Statues were revealed at Goldsmiths’ Hall, the iconic institution for craft and industry, before they make their way across the UK to raise money for Red Nose Day.
Miranda and friends will be popping up all over the UK from 12th February 2015. The public will be able to tap their card on the pocket of the Donation Statues to donate £1 to Comic Relief through the magic of Barclays contactless technology or via the Barclays Pingit app. Donors can even snap a celebrity selfie to share with friends using #RNDStatues.
Miranda said: "Yes you’ve heard it right, I will be immortalised in statue form for Red Nose Day – my very own doppelgänger (good word) but obviously I am much more beautiful in real life… "
The ten celebrities are just some of Britain’s best-loved comedians and comic characters who’ve donated their time and talent to help Comic Relief over the years and the public can keep an eye out for them in the following locations:
- Alan Partridge Steve Coogan – Norwich, intu Chapelfield Shopping Centre
- Billy Connolly – Glasgow, intu Braehead Shopping Centre
- David Walliams – London, Westfield Stratford City
- Dawn French – Buckinghamshire, intu Milton Keynes Shopping Centre
- Del Boy David Jason – Bristol, Cabot Circus
- Eddie and Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous (Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley) – London, Westfield White City
- John Bishop – Warrington, Golden Square Shopping Centre
- Lenny Henry – Dudley, intu Merry Hill Shopping Centre
- Miranda Hart – Exeter, Guildhall Shopping Centre
- Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) – Newcastle, intu Eldon Square Shopping Centre
The Donation Statues are the invention of Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis, who has collaborated with many of the nation’s favourite comedy stars over the years.
Richard said: “Since the beginning of Comic Relief I’ve asked hundreds of exceptionally talented and generous comedians to do strange things to raise money and this might be the oddest request yet. Huge thanks to all ten who agreed to let us turn them into a statue. As well as perfect selfie opportunities, just a simple tap on the pocket with a contactless card will give a £1 donation to help incredibly vulnerable people in the UK and across Africa. We’ve come a long way in fundraising since 1988!”
The money raised by Red Nose Day’s Donation Statues will be spent by Comic Relief in the UK, and across Africa, helping vulnerable and disadvantaged people to turn their lives around.
For more information about the Red Nose Day Donation Statues and to find your nearest comedy great to donate, head to www.rednoseday.com/statues.
