He was a cultural icon. A national treasure. An international statesduck.
So it is fitting that the memorial in his honour is being broadcast live by the BBC.
The statue to Long Boi, the outsized water fowl who became a celebrity, spirit animal and guru to so many, will be unveiled on Thursday 26 September, it was revealed today
It will be positioned near the lake at Derwent College on the University of York campus, where he enjoyed so many happy hours.
An announcement today by the University of York Students’ Union said: “It’s been a long time coming… but the Long Boi statue unveiling is officially on the horizon!
“We’re so excited to say that we’ll officially be unveiling Long Boi’s memorial statue on campus on Thursday 26 September.
“Oh, and we’ll be hosting a live broadcast of the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg James, of course.”
The 71cm-tall mallard-Indian runner cross first appeared on the Heslington campus in 2019.
Thanks to his lofty good looks, and his career as an influencer on Instagram, Long Boi went viral.
One of his biggest champions was the Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Greg James, where the duck once quacked live to the nation.
Last year, Long Boi disappeared, and was sadly declared dead in May 2023.
A crowdfunder soon raised £5K to create a statue of him. Wildlife sculptor Neil R Mason revealed his designs for the statue in spring.
And soon we will all get to see it.
A spokesperson for the BBC confirmed the plans for a live broadcast – with more details to follow.
And the students union said an outside broadcast truck was expected on the day.
Those who donated to the fundraiser will be first in line for tickets to the hottest unveiling this side of the New York Met.
