Celebrity Traitors star Joe Lycett has created an original artwork paying tribute to Anne Hughes, the Welsh nan whose 2024 encounter with a shop shutter made her a global internet sensation. The painting is part of his latest exhibition, EVERY THING MUST GO, on display at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
Anne Hughes' Viral Moment
In March 2024, Anne Hughes, then aged 71, was standing outside the Best One store in Tonteg, Pontypridd, when the closed shop shutter began to open, catching her coat and lifting her three metres into the air. Still clutching her shopping buggy, she was hoisted above the pavement before the shop owner, Mr Akram, heard her cries and lowered the shutters. The 31-second clip has been viewed on TikTok over 100 million times.
Joe Lycett's Tribute
The 38-year-old comedian from Birmingham, who was banished from the Traitors' castle in series two, episode six, posted a photo of his painting on Instagram. He wrote: "My painting in tribute to the great Anne Hughes, who brought joy to millions in 2021 (sic) when she was hoisted into the air outside the best-one she worked at in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. She took the experience in good spirit, saying in an interview with the BBC, 'my grandchildren ask me why I am holding on to my trolley and I say I just don’t know.' This painting is on display at my exhibition EVERY THING MUST GO at @birmingham_mag."
Sadly, Anne Hughes, a mother of three, died of cancer in December 2025. Comments on Lycett's post included one from the Best One shop saying, "@joelycett we need a copy for the shop it's only right (with thanks and love heart emojis)." Fans also asked about prints to hang in their homes.
Community Response
Tee2sugars, who painted a mural on the actual shutter, commented: "RIP Anne. She was a great woman. I painted her on the same shutter she got stuck on." Another person wrote: "Beautifully captured. An uplifting (tee-hee) message of hope through adversity".
Anne herself had seen the funny side, saying: "I was just stood there when my coat got caught and up I went. I thought flipping heck! People say it could happen to anyone, no, it could only happen to me! It's just lucky I've got a good sense of humour." She added: "I was embarrassed, who wouldn't be? But looking back I can see the funny side. And I've quite enjoyed the fame, people ask me for selfies next to the shutters."
