Monty Python fans now have a playful new tradition in Colwyn Bay, north Wales, where a bronze statue of the late Terry Jones invites visitors to rub its backside for good luck.
The Cheeky Tribute
The sculpture, depicting Jones as the iconic nude organist from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, debuted on Saturday in his hometown. Created in consultation with his family by sculptor Nick Elphick from nearby Llandudno, the statue sits on a bench alongside a piano, encouraging interaction.
Sally Jones, daughter of the comedian who passed away in 2020 at age 77, welcomes the gesture. “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 design, expressing hope that his friend’s “wonderfully generous bottom” becomes “an emblem of the town he loved so much.”
Crowds Celebrate at Unveiling
Thousands attended the event, including Palin and fellow Python member Terry Gilliam. The duo led the crowd in singing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” the hit from Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Palin, Gilliam, and frequent collaborator Carol Cleveland were the first to touch the statue’s backside.
Palin described Jones as “loyal,” “funny,” and “bright,” highlighting his many virtues. The project, funded by global Monty Python fans who raised over £120,000, received backing from John Cleese, Eric Idle, Emma Thompson, Steve Coogan, and Suzy Eddie Izzard.
Jones’s Hometown Roots and Legacy
Born in Colwyn Bay, Jones left at age five but maintained strong ties, serving as patron of Theatre Colwyn and aiding its 2011 renovation. He starred in, co-wrote, and directed films like Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979), The Meaning of Life (1983), and co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) with Gilliam. He also co-wrote TV series Ripping Yarns with Palin, a fellow University of Oxford alum.
Jones succumbed to a rare form of dementia. His family selected the nude organist portrayal to capture his spirited essence, avoiding a conventional depiction. Sally Jones noted it aligns with his aversion to anything “boring.”
Elphick, who perfected the smile after testing ten expressions, shared, “I hope rubbing his bum for luck will become a new tradition!” He added, “I hope I have done him justice. I feel like I’m the luckiest sculptor ever, a little bit of being in the right place, at the right time, to bring Terry Jones back to north Wales.”
Dilwyn Price, chairman of Conwy Arts Trust, called the statue a “lasting testimony” to Jones, who cherished his Welsh heritage and Colwyn Bay origins. The trust partnered on the project to honor the acclaimed actor, author, and historian.
