October 30, 2025 - 2509 views
Terry Jones’ statue in north Wales, celebrating him as the Nude Organist from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, will be unveiled on 25th April 2026 by his family and friends from the comedy world.
Comedy fans from around the world donated to the A Python On The Prom campaign, to raise a statue of Terry in his hometown of Colwyn Bay. The campaign was launched in September 2024 by Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam.
After consultation with his fellow Pythons, local groups, Terry’s family and the Sculptor Nick Elphick, it was agreed to portray Terry as one of his iconic characters, a suitably anarchic way to remember such an unconventional talent.
Michael Palin, Terry’s lifelong friend, remarked: “Terry always insisted on doing his own stunts, and I think that sitting stark naked (apart from a tie) on Colwyn Bay promenade, in all weathers, is the ultimate tribute to the lengths he was always prepared to go to for comedy. I hope his wonderfully generous bottom will become an emblem of the town he loved so much.”
Terry’s daughter, Sally, said: “Once we decided the best way to remember him was in character, it was so obvious that it had to be the Nude Organist. Dad’s approach to comedy and life in general was non-conformist and convention defying; and the Nude Organist is perfect, as it was such a shock in those early days of television. When Python burst on the scene, in the late 1960’s, they played with the structure of comedy, defying the convention of gag and punchline, with Graham Chapman dressed as a Field Marshall declaring sketches ‘too silly’ to continue or with a naked Terry blowing up a Hammond organ in some remote field; The Nude Organist symbolises what made Python so special, captivating and new.”
The statue presents Terry as the organist, nude apart from a flapping tie andn ‘exploded’ hair, grinning as he strikes the classic pose. In sculpting the organ, Nick takes artistic license and morphs the instrument with Terry’s writing desk, bringing to life aspects of his multi-faceted career to reflect the man as a whole, beyond Python.
Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam met with the Sculptor to get a sneak preview of the design and to help with insights into Terry’s life and work. Nick also met with Terry’s daughter Sally, and together they combed through Terry’s personal archive for handwritten notes, drawings and scraps of his writings to include.
Also included are elements of his popular children’s stories, Erik the Viking and Nicobobinus, frolicking across the bronze surface; even the instrument itself has sprouted suitably Pythonesque legs and threatens to march off.
Nick said: “I have put my heart and soul into this, every waking minute. I feel all of the different elements in this statue will explain and express everything about Terry, in so many different ways. I have been given so much creative stimuli and inspiration, giving me complete free rein, artistically speaking.”
For now, the Artist wants to keep all these little gems from Terry’s archive hidden, and throughout the next few months he will oversee the casting process; bringing all these separate threads together with Terry’s distinctive pose to fully immortalize him in bronze.
Steve Coogan, who worked with Terry on his film version of Wind in the Willows, has said: “Naked at the organ’ is both cheeky and a strangely profound expression of Terry’s life affirming anti-establishment anarchy!”
Sanjeev Bhaskar, who worked with Terry on his final film Absolutely Anything, has said: “Since Terry never won ‘Rear of the Year’ I think his posterior preserved for posterity in Colwyn Bay seems right. I’m absolutely behind it.”
Funded entirely by donations, the statue will be gifted to Conwy County Borough Council, to sit on the Promenade in Colwyn Bay; showing Terry in his true context, a proud Welshman in the place of his birth. The people of Colwyn Bay will be the first to see Terry revealed and the team behind the campaign, Terry’s family and the Conwy Arts Trust, plan to make the unveiling of the statue a big community event. As Sally says ‘We thought it had to be a suitably anarchic beach party, celebrating all things Terry, in Colwyn Bay.’
Dilwyn Price, Chair of Conwy Arts Trust, said: “It has been a real privilege to be involved in such an exciting and fulfilling arts project - one that will be a lasting testament to celebrate the huge impact of a proud Welsh actor, comedian, entertainer and educator. Diolch yn fawr iawn!
Many thanks to Terry’s family and friends for their infectious support and to the Python fans from across the world for their much appreciated contributions.”
Cllr Dilwyn Roberts, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Governance Services at Conwy County Borough Council said: “Terry was a much loved Patron of Theatr Colwyn and supporter of the arts in North Wales, particularly his home town of Colwyn Bay. It has been a joy to work with Terry's family and the Conwy Arts Trust to realise our joint ambition of raising a statue to Terry.
“The choice of the Nude Organist as the subject of the statue reflects the twinkle that Terry always had in his eye and is one of his most memorable and well-loved characters. We would like to thank people from all over the world who have so kindly donated to make the statue a reality and we look forward to welcoming many of them to our beautiful area to see the statue in place from next year.”
