A trail of 23 Paddington statues currently spans the UK and Ireland, from John O’Groats to County Mayo. To mark the bumper box office success of Paddington in Peru, the movie’s makers have a fun plan to add a 24th statue – and this one could be in your hometown.
Paddington Visits, as the Paddo statue trial is known, will be extended to one town in the UK and Ireland. Which one depends on you – or a child in the area – and it’s totally up for grabs.
And the criterion for the winning entry? ‘Write a message to Paddington and tell the bear what makes their home so special, with the most imaginative and heartfelt entry set to win.’
Or, as the star of the Paddington films, Hugh Bonneville, explains: ‘All you need to do is write to Paddington, telling him why your town is so special and marmalicious!’
So if you fancy sticking a paw up for a Paddington statue in your town, you’ll just need to pen the little bear a short note (100 words max) to explain why it’s the ideal spot for him to perch clad in that trademark red hat and blue duffle coat.
Head to the official site for all the details. The winning entry will be selected in January.
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