'Allo 'Allo's famous topless portrait 'The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies' arrives in France after a British ex-pat paid £18,000 for it at auction and has hung it up in his living room to show off to his Normandy neighbours

  • Alistair Assheton, a vineyard owner, has bought the prop from his favourite show
  • Many 'Fallen Madonnas' were made during 1980s/90s but only one survived  
  • The series ran from 1982 to 1992, set in a café in German-occupied France 

A painting at the centre of a long-running 'Allo 'Allo plotline is now hanging in a Normandy living room after a British vineyard owner snapped it up for £18,000.

Ex-pat Alistair Assheton bought the 'Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies' at auction and has 'returned' it to France, where it was hilariously fought over in the Second World War-set sitcom. 

The painting prop, by fictional artist Van Clomp, was the subject of a farce that involved the French Resistance going to comical lengths to hide it from the occupying Germans.

The painting ¿ The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies ¿ by the fictional artist Van Clomp, was a central prop in the Second World War comedy and has now been snapped up at auction for £18,000

 The painting – The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies – by the fictional artist Van Clomp, was a central prop in the Second World War comedy and has now been snapped up at auction for £18,000

At the centre of the slapstick was cafe owner and reluctant Resistance worker Rene Artois, played by the late Gordon Kaye.

Although many 'Fallen Madonna' paintings were produced for the show that ran for 10 years, only one has survived.

It had belonged to a production designer for the BBC comedy who sold it to a private collector in 2007. 

Ex-pat Alistair Assheton, a vineyard owner bought the prop and has hung it on his living room wall in Normandy, France

Ex-pat Alistair Assheton, a vineyard owner bought the prop and has hung it on his living room wall in Normandy, France 

Mr Assheton has placed the novelty art work in his living room at his home in Normandy to show off to his French friends and neighbours.

His home is three hours from Nouvion - the town in Picardie where 'Allo 'Allo! was set.

Mr Assheton, a partner at a vineyard, has since posted a picture of the 'Fallen Madonna' on social media with the words 'Good moaning', a reference to the character Officer Crabtree, a British spy posing as a French policeman with a dreadful Gallic accent. 

Andy Stowe, of East Bristol Auctions, said: 'He was really pleased he bought it because 'Allo 'Allo! was his favourite TV show.

'He was a phone bidder for the sale and when he won it he and his family cheered so loud the whole room could hear it.

'He drove all the way from France to Bristol to collect it. 

'I think he just wanted keep it on his wall to look at and show off to his friends. He is very proud of it. 

Lieutenant Hubert Gruber, played by Guy Siner, is pictured with the iconic painting during a scene from 'Allo 'Allo. During the series the paintings were often hidden in sausages, buried in the ground or in other amusing places

Lieutenant Hubert Gruber, played by Guy Siner, is pictured with the iconic painting during a scene from 'Allo 'Allo. During the series the paintings were often hidden in sausages, buried in the ground or in other amusing places

'It is a bit ironic that the painting has returned to norther France where 'Allo 'Allo! was based. I suppose it's an example of life imitating art.'

The comedy series ran from 1982 to 1992 and was set in a small-town café in German-occupied France during the Second World War.

The painting was a regular prop throughout the series, with elaborate plots to hide it and move it from the Germans that resulted in many comical scenes.

It was often concealed in a knackwurst sausage, paving the way for double entendre jokes.

The one that sold in Bristol appeared in the very final episode called A Winkle In Time, when the portrait is re-discovered in the arm of a statue outside Café Rene. 

René Artois, played by Gorden Kaye, tries to hide the painting down his shirt during a scene from the famous sitcom. For the past decade it has been hanging on a living room wall in the Midlands

René Artois, played by Gorden Kaye, tries to hide the painting down his shirt during a scene from the famous sitcom. For the past decade it has been hanging on a living room wall in the Midlands

What happened to the cast of 'Allo 'Allo after the iconic sitcom finished? 

RENE ARTOIS (GORDEN KAYE)

As Rene, Gorden Kaye risked his neck to aid the resistance and stay out of trouble with the Nazis, with Carmen Silvera as his wife Edith, Richard Gibson as Gestapo officer Herr Flick and Officer Crabtree (Arthur Bostrom).

Kaye had rarely been seen onscreen following the end of the long-running BBC show, which he returned to in 1990 after he was seriously injured in a car accident.   

He was left critically ill in hospital after a plank for an advertising board was blown through his car windscreen during the Burns' Day storm in January of that year. 

Prior to his starring role in popular British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo, Kaye had acted in Coronation Street playing Elsie Tanner's nephew Bernard Butler on the soap from 1969 to 1970

Prior to his starring role in popular British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo, Kaye had acted in Coronation Street playing Elsie Tanner's nephew Bernard Butler on the soap from 1969 to 1970

Kaye also starred in a successful stage version of 'Allo 'Allo! alongside the original cast, and later a new-look line-up, which frequently toured in the UK and internationally. 

Before joining 'Allo 'Allo! Kaye starred in Coronation Street playing Elsie Tanner's nephew Bernard Butler on the soap from 1969 to 1970. 

He also appeared in a number of shows including It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Are You Being Served? 

The actor's last screen role was in BBC sketch show Revolver in 2004. 

Tragic: Gorden Kaye, pictured with Vicki Michelle in 'Allo 'Allo! died in his care home yesterday morning at the age of 75.
The BAFTA-nominated actor in 2006

Tragic: Gorden Kaye, left in 'Allo 'Allo! with Vicki Michelle as Yvette, died in his care home yesterday morning at the age of 75. Right, the BAFTA-nominated actor in 2006

EDITH ARTOIS (CARMEN SILVERA)

Born in Canada, Carmen Silvera moved to Coventry as a child. She appeared in a string of television shows before joining the cast of 'Allo 'Allo!

She continued to work up until 2001, touring the country in the comedy You Only Live Twice.

The following year she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She died in August 2002, aged 80. 

Kaye visited her west London retirement home just days before she died. 

Carmen Silvera, pictured in 1998

Lasting friendship: Carmen Silvera, left as Edith Artois with on-screen husband Kaye, died in August 2002. Kaye visited the actress, right in 1998, just days before her death

RICHARD MARNER (COLONER KURT VON STROHM)   

Russian-born Richard Marner joined the cast of the BBC series about the French resistance at its inception in 1982 after an illustrious film career.

Marner appeared alongside Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in 1951's The African Queen. 

His other movie credits included Reach For The Sky, You Only Live Twice and Ice Cold In Alex.  

Marner died in Scotland in March 2004, aged 82. His last role before his death was 2002 film, The Sum of All Fears, starring Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman.

Illustrious career: Richard Marner, left as Colonel Kurt Von Strohm, died in 2004 aged 82

Illustrious career: Richard Marner, left as Colonel Kurt Von Strohm, died in 2004 aged 82

OFFICER CRABTREE (ARTHUR BOSTROM)    

Durham University graduate Arthur Bostrom trained for the theatre at the Drama Studio London before joining the cast of 'Allo 'Allo!

His character first appearing mid-way through the second series and remaining until the show's finale. 

While much of Officer Crabtree's humour was based on his mispronunciation of English words - his mangled vowels led him to adopt the greeting: 'Good moaning' - Bostrom speaks fluent French.

Since leaving the show he has returned to TV on Miss Marple: The Body in the Library, Return to Treasure Island and 99-1.

He has also appeared in a number of plays and radio programmes, including the BBC dramatisation of The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek alongside 'Allo 'Allo! co-star Sam Kelly.

YVETTE CARTE-BLANCHE (VICKI MICHELLE) 

Since leaving 'Allo 'Allo!, Vicki Michelle, 66, has appeared in a number of television programmes, including Doctors and Emmerdale. 

The actress has also enjoyed roles in a string of plays and starred in feature films including The Callback Queen, Silent Hours and No reasons.

In 2010 Michelle was awarded an MBE for her services to charity. The actress starred in the 2014 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 

Miss Michelle, pictured on Sunday night, has since starred in Emmerdale

Star power: Vicki Michelle led tributes to Kaye following his death, pictured left, the actors together on 'Allo 'Allo!. Miss Michelle, right on Sunday night, has since starred in Emmerdale

Last year the veteran star made headlines when she criticised British producers for always casting the same small group of performers in leading roles. 

Yesterday Ms Michelle led the tributes to Kaye, writing on Twitter: 'So sad to hear news of Gorden Kaye. 

A brilliantly talented actor consummate professional, loved the world over. There'll never be another Rene' 

 LIEUTENANT HUBERT GRUBER (GUY SINER) 

Guy Siner, 69, was born in Manhattan to an American father and an English mother.

After 'Allo 'Allo! Siner appeared in television programmes such as ChuckleVision, Doctors and Diagnosis Murder. 

Siner's film credits include Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Return to the Secret Garden. 

He has also lent his voice to a number of computer games and animated TV series.

Siner is distinguished as one of only 10 actors to appear in both the Doctor Who and Star Trek franchises.

Singer in 2015

Hollywood turn: American-born actor Guy Siner, left as Lieutenant Hubert Gruber in 'Allo 'Allo!, had a role in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Right, in 2015

HERR OTTO FLICK (RICHARD GIBSON) 

Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, Richard Gibson, 63, appeared in The Children of the New Forest, Poldark and Park Ranger before landing the role as the much-despised Gestapo officer Herr Flick in 'Allo 'Allo!

He reportedly came to the attention of co-creator David Croft while telling jokes with a German accent at his daughter's wedding. Gibson left the show after eight series in 1992 and David Janson took over the role in the final season. 

Much of his career since the show has been on stage but he has also appeared in TV mini-series Trade Winds and has worked as a voice over artist.  

Born in Uganda, Gibson is married to wife Kate and has two sons.

During a recent TV appearance

Much-despised: Richard Gibson as Herr Otto Flick, left, and in a recent TV appearance, right. The actor has spent much of his career on stage and has also worked as a voice over artist

 MADAME FANNY LE FAN (ROSE HILL)   

Trained as an opera singer, actress Rose Hill was almost 70 when she started playing Madame Fanny Le Fan, the adoptive mother of Edith Artois, on 'Allo 'Allo! in 1982. 

She remained for the show's 10-year run. 

After 'Allo 'Allo! Hill went on to have roles on A Touch of Frost and The Bill but much of her career took place before. 

Hill played Stanley Holloway's wife in the 1968 comedy series Thingumybob, and appeared briefly as an ARP warden in the Dad's Army episode 'Uninvited Guests'.

Accomplished: Trained as an opera singer, actress Rose Hill was almost 70 when she started playing Madame Fanny Le Fan, pictured, the adoptive mother of Edith, on 'Allo 'Allo! in 1982

Hill spent her final years in Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors, until her death in December 2003 at the age of 89. 

She was married to John St Leger Davis until his death in 1985.

 PRIVATE HELGA GEERHART (KIM HARTMAN)

Since 'Allo 'Allo!, Kim Hartman, 65, has appeared in television series Casualty, The Brittas Empire and 15 Storeys High. 

The actress also played Mrs Rawlinson on hit programme Grange Hill between 2005 and 2008. 

Miss Hartman has performed in radio plays Jamaica Inn and Lord Sky. She also presented a Travel Channel programme called Cruising To The Northern Lights. 

The actress has been married to husband John Nolan since 1975. Nolan is the uncle of directing-screenwriting duo Christopher and Jonathan Nolan.

MIMI LABONQ (SUE HODGE) 

Sue Hodge, 59, played diminutive Mimi Labonq, who replaced Maria (Francesca Gonshaw) as one of Rene's waitresses.

Much of the actress' career before and after 'Allo 'Allo! has been on stage, both in the UK and around the world. Last year Hodge starred as Nurse Mimi in the Haverhill Arts Centre production of the pantomime 'Robin Hood'.

In 2009 Hodge returned to television as Connie in BBC3 sitcom The Lads Club.

The actress married musician Keith 'Paddington' Richards near Lincoln in 2002. Guests included 'Allo 'Allo! co-star Gorden Kaye.

CAPTAIN ALBERTO BERTORELLI (GAVIN RICHARDS)

Gavin Richards appeared as Captain Alberto Bertorelli in more than 30 episodes of 'Allo 'Allo! between 1987 and 1989. 

He went on to have roles in Kinsey, Mike & Angelo and Coronation Street, but is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Terry Raymond in EastEnders from 1996 to 2002. 

Richards also appeared in The Bill, Annie's Bar and Full Throttle. 

As a theatre director and actor, Richards, 70, is known for adapting the work of Italian playwright Dario Fo into English. 

He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his 1980 production of the playwright's Accidental Death of an Anarchist. 

Richards, who also co-founded a theatre company in New Zealand with wife Tamara Henry, also had his book of poetry published in 2015.   

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