Superlambanana auction raises £550,000 for charity
Among the successful bidders were comedian John Bishop and Big Brother champ Craig Phillips.
John Bishop, who bought Baa-ve New World, said: “I just liked it. It will go in the garden, and I know the dog will pee on it! But the main thing is the money’s going to charity.”
Craig Phillips was outbid for the LFC statue Koppy, but had a tense two-round battle to buy the homage to builders, Homer, for £10,000.
He said: “I was up against the company that commissioned it but I thought, no matter what I’m going to have it.”
Among others at the auction in St George’s Hall were Kenny and Marina Dalglish, Gerry Marsden, and Pete Price who auctioned off the ECHO-sponsored statue he had designed for £8,500.
Marina Dalglish, whose cancer appeal is one of the beneficiaries of the evening, said: “It’s unbelievable. I didn’t think they would go for anywhere near this.”
Other charities to benefit are Alder Hey’s Imagine Appeal, Liverpool’s Heart and Chest Hospital’s Merseybeat Appeal and the Liverpool and South Sefton branch of the Alzheimer’s Society.
More than 40,000 people said their farewells to the Superlambananas which were put on public display for two days before last night’s auction.
Council leader Warren Bradley said: “They’ve captured the hearts and imagination not only of children but every single generation right across this city.”
An online auction of around 30 more statues takes place from next Tuesday, with 25% of the proceeds going to the Lord Mayor’s charities.