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The painting of ‘The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies’ that was a central prop in the hit wartime TV series ‘Allo ‘Allo has resurfaced after decades in hiding - in Hanham, of all places.

The portrait, which was saved by the French resistance led by hapless cafe owner Rene and hidden from the Gestapo in the 1980s TV show, has been hanging on a living room wall for a decade.

The painting by the fictional artist 'Van Clomp' was a central prop in the World War Two-based comedy starring the late Gorden Kaye.

It depicts a bare-breasted woman with a mountain scene behind and was the star of a number of scenes in the wartime romp.

The Nazis in the show were desperate to steal the ‘masterpiece’ from the French Resistance and Rene Artois.

Kaye's Rene was a the cafe owner who hid the coveted painting from the Germans by wearing it under his shirt and rolling it inside a knockwurst sausage.

It is believed the painting was designed by a set maker for the show and several were made - but only one now exists.

(Image: Western Daily Press)

The current owner bought it from the production designer of the final series, Shaun Moore, at a school fundraiser in 2007

It has since has been hanging over the dinner table in his living room for the past ten years.

He has now decided to sell it through East Bristol Auctions, which has given it a guide price of £5,000 - £10,000.

It will be sold in Hanham, Bristol, on December 1 and comes framed and with various prop newspaper cuttings to the reverse.

Andrew Stowe, auctioneer at East Bristol Auctions, said: "It is an absolutely iconic piece of television history.

"This isn't just a background prop, this is something the entire show was based around.

"It's been stuffed in sausages, buried in the ground and it is now stowed away in our safe.

"In an ironic way, this 'worthless' fictional painting has become its own masterpiece.

(Image: Getty/BBC)

"It is estimated at £5,000 to £10,000 - and we're expecting a lot of interest from all over the world. We're certainly hoping that it'll be a 'Good Moaning' come the auction day.

"It's one of those items that was featured in nearly every episode of the sitcom, and it is somewhat funny that most people know this fictional painting more than some of the greatest paintings in the world.

"In most people's psyche, this ranks up there alongside Van Gogh and Constable. It really is a British masterpiece.

"TV memorabilia is huge at the moment and ‘Allo ‘Allo is so well loved – I don’t think there is another British sitcom that carried so many catchphrases, and everyone knows them.

"Ever since it’s been in our saleroom the staff have been greeting each other with ‘good moaning’ and there’s many a reference to a ‘dicky ticker’.

(Image: Western Daily Press)

"It just brings a smile to everyone’s face. I can’t think of a more iconic piece of artwork from a British television show – it’s a true classic."

The painting appeared in the final episode of the show in 1992, where, after having gone missing since the end of the war, it is discovered in the arm of a statue outside ‘Café Rene’.

Having had a ‘booby’ removed in a previous series, the painting and missing part are reunited once more.

The painting is in a production made frame, and features various prop newspaper cuttings to the reverse.

Andrew Stowed added: "It’s been hanging on the vendor’s living room wall for some ten years – right there above their dining table.

"The vendor’s wife said they would often look up at it and smile.

"We’re honoured to have this icon of British comedy in our saleroom. As a running gag throughout the entire show, this is practically a main member of the cast,” he added.