00:00 From the launch of the trail character to the race for sponsors to pick their design,
00:04 the Shaun the Sheep on the Tyne Trail has officially been launched.
00:09 3, 2, 1, Go!
00:14 Yay!
00:18 Statues of Shaun the Sheep have been placed across the city, all in aid of raising money
00:22 for the St Oswald's Hospice.
00:24 It's an amazing feeling actually and I think what's been lovely is because the statues
00:28 have actually been out there since the beginning of the week, just seeing how happy they're
00:33 making people.
00:34 People see them and their faces light up and people are having their photos taken next
00:38 to them, so that's great.
00:40 So it's lovely for us to think actually that's something that we're doing that will benefit
00:45 us through the fundraising, but actually it's making so many people happy as well, which
00:49 is, it's just great after the last few years that we've had.
00:52 You can now use the trail map to try and find all of them and add the sheep to your collection
00:56 on the app.
00:57 There are so many Shaun's like this one across Newcastle and each one looks different to
01:02 the next.
01:03 They've each been designed by a different local artist and we were lucky enough to have
01:08 a sneak peek at all of them.
01:11 From Shaun sticking his head through a painting, to him being dressed up as a pirate, to some
01:15 of the sheep wearing glasses, every sculpture is completely unique.
01:19 And even Dolly Parton, sorry, Dolly Barton made an appearance.
01:24 Shaun is a beloved character by many and Aardman are very happy to have him as the iconic character
01:29 of this year's trail.
01:31 It's brilliant.
01:32 It makes me feel so proud to work for an organisation that can bring so much joy to people.
01:37 And just to come to a city, I don't know Newcastle particularly well, but it just seems such
01:42 a brilliant city to be in and to see our character all around Newcastle and to see the joy it
01:48 brings and just see the wonderful designs.
01:51 Just makes me feel really proud and really happy.
01:53 And of course doing such a great thing for Sir Oswald as well.
01:56 As well as the 45 statues that are across Newcastle, there are also 70 little ones which
02:01 have been decorated by children.
02:04 But we wanted to know if anyone had a favourite Shaun the Sheep sculpture.
02:07 Well I have to say, from the first second that I saw the design, I just loved Dolly
02:12 Parton.
02:13 But that's because I'm a big Dolly Parton fan.
02:15 I think she's an amazing person.
02:17 She's actually one of my oldest friends, is a designer for a number of them.
02:23 So she's done the Greggs sculpture and a couple of others.
02:27 So I have to say, I have to say Julia Stafford's artwork is really fantastic and it's lovely
02:33 that we've still got this connection.
02:35 Well I've been lucky enough to have a little bit of time this morning to have an early
02:38 morning walk around down on the Quay and around the city.
02:43 And for me the one that I really loved was the Perfect Day, which was with Julia Stafford
02:48 and the Greggs Breakfast Club.
02:50 I love the idea that you've got a local artist but also working with some kids within the
02:54 city as well to create it.
02:56 Because as much as it's about professional artists and all these kind of things, it's
03:00 also about making sure the community is properly and truly involved in the project.
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