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Controversial 30ft nude gladiator returns to town

Georgie DockerNorth West
News imageBBC Front view from below of a large gold statue of a roman male gladiator has curly short hair on it's head and a fist raised in the air. It is naked and male and has a small visible appendage. Blue sky and rooftops can be seen behind the big statue. BBC
Wigan's warrior makes a valiant return, three years after a council ban

A giant golden statue of a naked Roman gladiator dubbed Golden Balls by local people has been returned to a town after a dispute with the local council led to him being banned.

The 30ft (9m) figure - used to advertise the 2000 blockbuster movie Gladiator starring Russell Crowe - was once a landmark feature outside an antique shop in Wigan.

Beloved by some, but offensive to others, it was removed at the request of Wigan Council in October 2022 - but, three years later, owner Grant Adamson, 60, has decided to bring it back to spread some "Christmas cheer".

The council said it was aware a "large statue" had been brought onto the site and it was "assessing whether any consent is needed".

News imageA man in a green hoodie reading 'Bulldog Forge' posing in front of a large gold statue of a roman male gladiator. The gladiator has has curly short hair on it's head and a fist raised in the air. It is naked and male but is blurred into the background in this shot. Blue sky and rooftops can be seen behind the big statue.
Owner Grant Adamson, of Grant's Bulldog Forge antique shop, said a "toga" or "underpants" could be fashioned for the statue if needed

Mr Adamson said: "It's just something different isn't it, a bit of a landmark.

"There's not another one of him."

He said Golden Balls would be good for local business, attracting customers to the area.

Artwork or offensive?

Local residents also appeared positive about the reappearance of the Roman warrior.

"It's quite a sight when you come up the road, and it's a great addition to have it back here at the forge," Anne Fowler, 67, said.

"It certainly puts a smile on my face, I don't think you can help it not to - it's quite a thing."

Another resident said the fact the statue was naked did not matter to her. "It's good to have artwork out and about on show," she said. "It shouldn't be hidden."

And one man, who can see the statue from his home, said he thought it was "beautiful", adding it "made the place special".

News imageA woman in a patterned fleece smiling and posing in front of a large gold statue of a roman male gladiator. The gladiator has has curly short hair on it's head and a fist raised in the air. It is naked and male but is blurred into the background in this shot. Blue sky and rooftops can be seen behind the big statue.
The return of the statue "certainly puts a smile on my face" said resident Anne Fowler

However, Mr Adamson said there had been some dissenting voices on social media about the appropriateness of the statue.

But if nudity was the concern, Mr Adamson suggested a solution - perhaps a "toga" or a "pair of underpants" could be fashioned for the gladiator.

"If Santa Claus is watching, the gladiator would like a nice new pair of blue underpants for Christmas please," he joked.

Mr Adamson told the BBC he expected the council might ask him to remove it again - but said he remained hopeful there could be a discussion, should they get in touch.

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