Colin Firth Statue As Mr Darcy In 'Pride And Prejudice' Emerges From Hyde Park Lake To Mark Launch Of UK Drama Channel

Colin Firth's Eye-Popping Lake Scene Brought To (Larger Than) Life

Colin Firth's eye-popping lake scene from 'Pride And Prejudice' has been brought to life once again - with a giant statue positioned in a well-known lake.

The fibreglass sculpture of the actor's head and torso stretches 12ft out of the water at The Serpentine in London's Hyde Park.

Mr Darcy, brought to life again in Hyde Park

It has been built to celebrate today's launch of new TV channel Drama after topping a poll last week to find the the most memorable moment in British TV drama.

The scene featured in a 1995 BBC adaptation of the Jane Austen novel, which was published 200 years ago. The image of Firth emerging dripping wet from the lake at Lyme Park in Cheshire caused a stir and turned the actor into a sex symbol.

Mr Darcy stands !2 feet tall in Hyde Park's Serpentine lake

Hyde Park was a fashionable place to promenade in the early 1800s - and for decades afterwards - with Austen strolling there on a regular basis.

The model of the star took a team of three sculptors in excess of two months to design, construct and paint.

Lead sculptor Toby Crowther said: "The challenge for us was capturing the spirit of Darcy as handsome and noble but also aloof and proud. The Mr Darcy sculpture is a real mix of the many portrayals of Jane Austen's most famous hero."

The sculpture will tour a number of locations before being installed in Lyme Park, where it will remain until February.

Adrian Wills, general manager of Drama, said: "Jane Austen spent a lot of time walking in Hyde Park and along the banks of the Serpentine, so we would like to think she would have approved of our new dashing Darcy."

The new channel, created by UKTV, is a free-to-air station which is on Sky and on Freeview channel 20.

Not sure it compares with the original. What do you think?

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