Plans submitted for Roy Hudd statue outside Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds
A statue of comedian and actor Roy Hudd is set to be installed outside the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, following the submission of a planning application to West Suffolk Council.
Last updated 9th Jan 2026
Hudd, who lived near Stowmarket in Suffolk and passed away in 2020, was best known for hosting BBC Radio 2’s The News Huddline for 26 years and appearing in Coronation Street.
He also regularly performed at the Theatre Royal, including in the production of Goodnight Mister Tom in 2018, which drew record audiences.
The proposed memorial, created by local sculptor Sean Hedges‑Quinn, would depict Hudd sitting on a bench in brass.
The design was suggested by Hudd’s widow, Debbie Hudd, after a memorial service could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She hopes the statue will welcome audiences to the theatre for generations to come.
According to the planning documents, the proposed site on Westgate Street is currently used for bin storage. The project would involve relocating the bins, repaving the ground, and demolishing a nearby wall to make space for the bench and statue.
The statue, which has been funded by Debbie Hudd and private donations at a cost of around £100,000, could be unveiled in May 2026, marking what would have been Hudd’s 90th birthday.
Hedges‑Quinn, known for other notable works such as the statue of Sir Alf Ramsey outside Portman Road in Ipswich, has completed the sculpture, which is now awaiting approval from the council.
West Suffolk Council will make a decision on the planning application in the coming weeks.