Artist Ally Rosenberg, who has made sculptures out of tea bags and chewing gum, now has an ever funnier subject — comedian Matt Lucas. Manchester’s Mr Rosenberg, 18, has been working with the Little Britain star to complete a life-size clay and plaster model of him. Mr Rosenberg tells People: “I am really interested in Matt Lucas as a person and the contrast between his sensitive and personable characteristics and his on-screen character traits, which can be quite outrageous and grotesque.

“It wasn’t meant to be a celebrity portrait but a piece of artwork based on an interesting person.” He adds: “Matt was really nice and kind about it and provided a lot of input.”

A former pupil at King David High School, Mr Rosenberg is about to start a fine art degree at St Martin’s College in London.

He achieved an A in his art A level, gaining top marks for his sculpture of a toothless woman made from chewing gum. He has also cast a man using teabags salvaged from the school staff room. “I’m interested in the way people connect with each other visually, expressing our personality in the way we look,” adds Mr Rosenberg, who recently appear on BBC’s One Show with Matt Lucas to talk about the sculpture.

He will also be exhibiting his pieces in an online JNF exhibition, launching on October 15.