The iconic ‘wet shirt’ worn by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen will be on display at Bankfield Museum.

The classic 1995 television scene saw Mr. Darcy dive into a lake and emerge with his shirt wet and clinging to him, only to be unexpectedly confronted by the presence of Miss Elizabeth Bennet; the lady who had rejected his marriage proposal. The scene was a masterpiece of awkwardness and has been voted by many to be their favourite and most memorable television moment.

Despite not being in Jane Austin’s novel, the moment boosted viewing figures and turned actor Colin Firth into an instant heartthrob. The shirt itself is now a piece of costume history in its own right. Calderdale Museums acquired the shirt along with several other TV and film costumes in March 2024 at an auction by Cosprop to raise money for the Bright Foundation. The final amount was £25,000 which was made possible by generous donations from museums visitors to the Works of Art Fund.

Bankfield museum is free to enter and the display, featuring the shirt and the rest of Mr Darcy’s outfit will be accessible to view on the ground floor.

Learn more on the Bankfield Museum website below.

Image ©BBC

‍