'I put my mum's face on a 17m billboard as a surprise, her reaction was priceless'

Theresa, 56, beside an image of herself on the OVC billboard
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A son surprised his mum by putting her face on one of the biggest billboards in Europe.

Oliver Ryan, 22, wanted to show mum Theresa Ryan, 56, how much he appreciates all she does for the family. And he could think of no better way than putting a photo of her holding a glass of prosecco on the 17.6m x 17.4m billboard in Victoria Warehouse, Manchester.

He surprised her with it by inviting her to go to lunch nearby. Theresa, 56, said: "I was so oblivious and I didn’t even see it at first.

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Oliver Ryan uploading the image of his mother to the OVC billboard
Oliver Ryan uploading the image of his mother to the OVC billboard

“He never treats me so when he was taking me to Nando’s I thought there must be something else. I thought I came all this way for a Nando’s - I'm glad it was a surprise.

“I was gobsmacked, and it was an absolutely dream."

Oliver, a social media manager, chose a photo from his mum's Instagram account and arranged for it to be transmitted to the e-billboard at 1pm yesterday (September 24). "They said it never had been done before and would allow me to my mum on the billboard," he said.

Oliver has always been wanting to surprise his mum
Oliver has always been wanting to surprise his mum

At 1pm, as Oliver and Theresa were walking to lunch the billboard switched and featured her face for half an hour. Oliver said: “She started to cry which was really wholesome.

“It was really nice to actually do something for my mum and it was the perfect surprise. Her reaction was great.”

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