Huge Bronze Statue Set To Honour Brighton Icons Katie Price And Simon Cowell Atop i360 Tower

Plans to celebrate two of Sussex's most beloved icons have been revealed this morning (Tuesday), with the current site of a popular tourist attraction mooted as the ideal destination.

Following a public vote, author Katie Price and sharp-tongued reality TV judge Simon Cowell were chosen as the two local legends to be immortalised via a 40-metre tall bronze statue in place of the top section of the i360 Tower on Lower Kings Road.

The total bill for the building of the statue and work to place it upon the current tower is expected to cost around £35m.

They defeated the likes of Chris Eubank, Lesley Manville, Lucy Griffiths, and George Sanders, as well as musicians like Norman Cook/Fatboy Slim, Nick Cave, and David Gilmour, and writers such as Peter James.

Dismantling of the top section of the famous tower — which comes apart in columns — will commence on the first Monday of next month (May 5) from 8am, and is expected to take around four months to complete.

Brighton i360 was built as a 162m moving observation tower on the seafront of Brighton at the landward end of the remains of the West Pier.

The tower opened on 4 August 2016. From the fully enclosed viewing pod, visitors were able to experience 360-degree views across Brighton, the South Downs and the English Channel.

Much of that will now be resigned to past tense, replaced by the famous duo as the attraction enters a new and exciting era.

Brighton resident, Phillip McManaman, said:

"This is a special day for our proud city, we have waited decades to fully acknowledge these two wonderful celebrities.

"I had initially voted for the entire Eubank family to be recognised, but due to their broad appeal, Simon and Jordan (Katie Price) are two thoroughly commendable choices.

"I know we are all excited to see them take their rightful place at the top of the i360 Tower."