Harry Hill unveils Gromit Unleashed charity art project

Harry Hill has announced his support for Gromit Unleashed, a charity art project organised by Wallace & Gromit owners Aardman Animations.

When launched later this Summer, Gromit Unleashed will see around 70 giant individually-decorated statues of the famous mute dog character spring up across Bristol for ten weeks, as a fundraising appeal for the local children's hospital.

Hill unveiled his decorated Gromit sculpture this morning to the character's creator, Nick Park - it was the first of the project's finished designs to be revealed.

Harry Hill explained: "Wallace and Gromit have world fame and are iconic British characters - it's like being given Mickey Mouse, you feel a certain responsibility before you start to splash the paint on. I decided my Gromit should raise awareness of male baldness. I'm not quite bald but I'm balding, so I've shaved Gromit back to his pink skin and put a bit of stubble on him."

The TV Burp star has, over the last couple of years, slowly revealed his love of art. Last August he went more public with his love of painting by showcasing an exhibition of some of his own creations at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Nick Park said: "I've always loved Harry's work. When I found out he was an artist I thought who better to approach. He was so generous and immediately said yes. I'm incredibly precious about Gromit so it's been quite nerve wracking for me waiting to see what designs come back, but I think Harry's is quite stunning and funny. It's such an honour and a privilege that my creation is the focus of all this attention. I can't quite come to terms with it. I think Wallace might be feeling a bit left out!"

Hill added that is looking forward to seeing all the statues when they spring up in Bristol in July. "I'll be sure to make every effort to come back for the trail. Bristol's a great city and you can't get a much better cause than raising money for a children's hospital."

Standing at 5 ft (1.5m), Hill's bald version of Gromit is sponsored by Destination Bristol. Alongside various celebrities, around 40 artists from the region have been selected to design a Gromit for the trail. Also revealed today (and pictured below) was a Gromit painted like a baboon, designed by Bristol-based Vivi Cuevas, and Chester-based Martin Band's Union Jack version of Gromit.

After the public art trail finishes in September, the Gromit Unleashed sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds towards the Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal campaign to support the expansion of Bristol children's hospital. The appeal has pledged to raise an initial £3.5 million for state-of-the-art equipment, including an MRI scanner, family facilities and child-friendly artwork to enhance the £30 million investment by the NHS.

For further information and the latest news on the project, visit www.gromit-unleashed.org.uk

Hill was in Bristol as he continues his 40-date comedy tour of the UK with his show Sausage Time. Other current projects for the comedian include writing a musical based on the X Factor. It has been revealed this month the stage show is set to open at the prestigious London Palladium in the spring of 2014.

The TV Burp star also recently edited an edition of the Beano for Comic Relief. View cartoon