BBC protects statue by sculptor who sexually abused two daughters
- BBC bosses lodge plans for a 13ft long wide screen to cover Prospero and Ariel
- The statue outside BBC’s Broadcasting House has been vandalised repeatedly
The BBC is moving to protect a controversial statue by paedophile sculptor Eric Gill after it was vandalised, MailOnline can reveal.
Bosses at the corporation have lodged a planning application for a protective screen after carrying out costly repairs to the Prospero and Ariel carving.
The statue, which is displayed on the outside of the BBC’s London headquarters, has been attacked by protestors twice in the last two years.
Campaigners against sexual abuse have been left outraged by the decision and called on corporation bosses to remove the statue, which shows Ariel as a naked child, given its connection to Gill who wrote about abusing his daughters in his diaries.
In planning documents, Mark Fewster, the BBC’s corporate security manager, said: ‘The question must be if the guard force is physically unable to prevent someone from accessing the statue for any similar future attempt what is the solution?
‘A protective screen has been proposed which, if designed and installed correctly, should prevent access, to all but the most determined of adversary.’
The Grade II listed statue depicts Ariel and Prospero from The Tempest. Above, Gill with his work
How the security screen will cover the statue at BBC Broadcasting House to deter attackers
A man wearing a Spiderman mask used a hammer and chisel to damage the statue in May last year
He goes to say: ‘The statue is a highly emotive subject and has courted negative attention for many years, with individuals and groups demanding its removal.
‘I do not see this interest waning and with the coverage of the previous attacks, copycat attempts cannot be discounted.’
The BBC plan to erect a glazed screen measuring 13ft high by 9ft wide. The screen would be accompanied by a 45 degree Portland stone coping which would make it difficult to stand next to the statue.
But one critic called on Westminster City Council, who are considering the plans, to refuse the screen and urged corporation bosses to remove the statue from Broadcasting House in Portland Place.
Marilyn Hawes, chief executive of campaign group Freedom from Abuse, told MailOnline: ‘It’s outrageous, it makes no sense to me at all.
‘The BBC are trying to brush this issue under the carpet. There is no consideration given for Gill’s victims or any other victims.’
In May last year, a man wearing a Spider-Man mask was accused of causing £31,000 worth of damage to the statue after allegedly scaling scaffolding outside Broadcasting House and attacking the statue with a hammer and chisel.
In diaries published after his death, Gill (pictured) admitted to sexually abusing his daughters and a dog
The Grade II-listed statue outside the BBC’s London headquarters was also attacked by a man with a hammer in 2022
The area was cordoned off and the man remained there for just over eight hours until specialist officers arrived to arrest him, it was alleged.
The man indicated a not guilty plea to one count of causing criminal damage in court last year.
The statue was also attacked in January 2022 when a protester climbed a ladder and took a hammer to the statue.
Mr Fewster added: ‘As previously mentioned, I believe the installation of the sloping plinth and protective screening would necessitate an assailant to attack the statue while atop the ladder with an awkward angle and significantly reduced reach and swing angle.
‘As a result, any damage that could be done would be significantly reduced.’
Gill’s 1932 statue Prospero And Ariel, inspired by Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, occupies a prominent position at the entrance to Broadcasting House.
Eric Gill was one of the most respected artists of the 20th century when he died in 1940.
However his diaries, published in 1989, revealed that he regularly abused his daughters Betty and Petra, as well as the family dog.
The Mail previously uncovered figures revealing the huge cost of repairing the 1930s sculpture.
According to a Freedom of Information made to the BBC, the cost of the first phase of work carried out on restoring the sculpture totaled £40,782.
This included the cost of ‘scaffolding hire and licensing’ as well as ‘the cost of stone masonry works that were carried out after the first incident in January 2022’.
It added there was an ‘additional cost’ of £7,255 for the ‘continuation of scaffolding hire and licensing between the first and second phase of restoration work’.
The first phase of the restoration includes stone masonry work that was required to clean the impacted surfaces as well as making sure it was still structurally sound. Phase two included the cost of restorative stone masonry as well as a listed building application.
It is understood the BBC’s decision to repair the sculpture came after discussions with cultural organisations such as Historic England.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘The BBC in no way condones Gill’s abusive behaviour. Broadcasting House is a building of historical and cultural significance and has been so for almost a century.
‘Having sought expert advice and opinion, we are repairing the façade in line with the building’s Grade II-listed status.’
The corporation said members of the public will be ‘able to access information about the artwork and artist’ via a nearby ‘QR code’ once the restoration work is complete.
