'Donation statues' for Comic Relief

Miranda Hart has unveiled a collection of Comic Relief ‘donation statues’ featuring famous comedy icons.

Ten of the displays have been created for Red Nose Day, and will be dispatched to parts of the country relevant to them from Thursday.

The public will be able to tap their contactless card on the pocket of the statues to donate £1 to Comic Relief.

Hart, who unveiled the figures in London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall 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 and the locations they will be installed in are:

Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan): Norwich, Chapelfield Shopping Centre
Billy Connolly: Glasgow, Braehead Shopping Centre
David Walliams: London, Westfield Stratford City
Dawn French:Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes Shopping Centre
Del Boy (David Jason): Bristol, Cabot Circus (the exterior of Nelson Mandela House was a building in Bristol)
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, Merry Hill Shopping Centre
Miranda Hart: Exeter, Guildhall Shopping Centre
Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson): Newcastle, Eldon Square Shopping Centre

The figures are the invention of Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis, who 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 statues will be at the shopping centres from February 12 to 14, except Miranda's in Exeter, which starts on February 14.

Published: 9 Feb 2015