Our reporter Sarah Dunphy is at the scene of the unveiling, the University of York.
Greg James’s is broadcasting his Radio 1 Breakfast Show live from the scene (you’ll be listening to YorkMix Radio of course).
Here’s what’s going on there today.
As befits a global legend, Long Boi is on Wikipedia.
Here’s how the entry begins…
Long Boi (fl. 2018 – April 2023) was an unusually tall male duck that lived by Derwent College, University of York, England. He was thought to be an Indian Runner duck-Mallard cross, standing out among the other ducks on the campus due to his height. He went viral and became an internet meme in 2021. His popularity saw him become an unofficial mascot for the university. At least one commentator has branded him ‘Britain’s most famous duck’.
In early May 2023, students expressed concerns that Long Boi had not been seen in at least a week. On 11 May, the university concluded that he was presumably dead. He had not been seen on campus for nearly two months.
You can read the whole entry here.
Here are a few Long Boi pictures from our archives to remember him by.
There is more to today than a mere statue unveiling.
That of course is the apogee of today’s events when we will finally see Long Boi immortalised.
But there’s a whole order of service. It includes a very serious minute of quacking.
Here it is in full:
York is preparing to say goodbye.
The city’s favourite waterfowl, Long Boi, will be honoured at a service held at the University of York today (Thursday, 26 September).
And BBC star Greg James will be broadcasting his Radio 1 breakfast show live from the campus – and unveiling the long-awaited statue to the web-footed legend.
You can read our full preview here.
A crash that was causing problems on Tadcaster Road in York this morning (Wednesday, 25 September) has been cleared.
It was near to York College, between Sim Balk Lane and Moor Lane roundabout.
At 9.17am, York Travel posted on X: “Please avoid the area if possible.”
But the road is now cleared and traffic is returning to normal.
Bus services were being disrupted while the crash was ongoing:
