Mr Darcy’s daring ‘wet shirt’ to make another splash… this time in Edinburgh
A giant inflatable statue of Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in his famous "wet shirt" scene from the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is set to appear in Edinburgh. The 12-metre sculpture recreates the moment Darcy emerges dripping from a lake at Pemberley, one of the most iconic scenes in British television drama, and became a viral sensation when it first appeared floating on the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park in 2013.
The original statue was commissioned by Drama channel to mark the anniversary of the adaptation, and its return has been organised as part of a promotional push, with organisers hoping it will draw crowds and social media attention in Edinburgh in the same way it did in London. The exact display dates and location within the city have yet to be confirmed.
- Giant inflatable Mr Darcy 'wet shirt' statue heads to Edinburgh.
- Recreates iconic 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice lake scene.
- Statue previously caused a stir floating on London's Serpentine in 2013.
New here? Start with this
Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr Darcy in the BBC's 1995 television version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is one of the best-loved moments in British costume drama. In it, Darcy dives into a lake at his estate, Pemberley, and emerges with his shirt clinging to him, a scene that has since become shorthand for period-drama romance.
In 2013, a huge inflatable statue recreating that moment was floated on the Serpentine lake in London's Hyde Park to mark an anniversary of the original broadcast. It was commissioned by the Drama television channel and drew large crowds and widespread media coverage at the time, becoming something of a cultural talking point beyond fans of the original series.
The statue's reappearance, this time in Edinburgh, follows the same pattern of using the image to generate public interest and attention, rather than being linked to any new production or anniversary of particular significance. It matters mainly as a piece of pop culture nostalgia, tied to one of British television's most recognisable scenes.