The unveiling of a bronze statue dedicated to the beloved romantic comedy heroine, Bridget Jones, took a hilariously unexpected turn on Monday, 17th November 2025, when actress Sally Phillips let slip an expletive during a live BBC broadcast.
A Ceremony with a Side of Chaos
The event in London's Leicester Square was intended to be a wholesome affair, cementing Bridget Jones's place among cinematic greats like Harry Potter, Paddington Bear, and Mary Poppins. Sally Phillips, who played Shazza in all four Bridget Jones films, was introducing the cast when she quipped, "Everyone’s favourite rom com heroine, Bridget Jones — I think she [the statue] should have gone up before Paddington, what do you think?"
As a BBC news commentator began to provide context over her remarks, Phillips's voice cut through once more, this time clearly uttering, "Thank f***." The startled journalist was heard promptly apologising for the language on air, adding a moment of pure, Bridget-esque pandemonium to the proceedings.
The Iconic Details of the Statue
Helen Fielding, the author who first created Bridget Jones in a newspaper column before the character became a global bestseller in 1996, revealed a charming detail about the new statue to the BBC. She confirmed that the bronze figure sports one of Bridget's most legendary accessories: her enormous 'mummy pants'.
"It’s got Renée’s head from the first movie and I think she’s wearing the mummy pants because she’s got a very flat stomach!" Fielding laughed. The knickers were immortalised in the first film when Hugh Grant's character, Daniel Cleaver, spotted them and famously said, "Hello mummy."
Reflecting on the character's enduring appeal, Fielding stated that Bridget resonates because she embodies the gap "between how we feel we are supposed to be and how we really are inside." She noted this feeling is even more potent for young women today facing the pressures of social media perfection.
Bridget Takes Her Place in Cinematic History
The statue, designed by London-based studio 3D Eye, is now a permanent part of the Leicester Square film trail. Eric Fellner, co-chair of Working Title, the studio behind the films, told Deadline he was "over-excited" that Bridget is the square's first romantic comedy character to be honoured.
"Bridget’s a proper London heroine, and the idea of having her ever-present in a brilliant location in the centre of London is really exciting," he said.
The unveiling was attended by Renée Zellweger, who has portrayed Bridget for over twenty years, alongside Sally Phillips, Eric Fellner, and actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall from the newest film, Mad About the Boy.
Leicester Square is home to a pantheon of film statues, including:
- Batman on the Odeon cinema roof
- Paddington Bear on a bench
- Harry Potter flying on a broomstick
- Mary Poppins with her umbrella
- Mr. Bean on a garden bench
The new addition ensures that Bridget Jones – big knickers and all – is now firmly established as one of London's most cherished screen icons.
