Arguably the most famous wet shirt in television history has been sold for an eye-watering sum.

The white linen garment worn by Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in the BBC’s 1995 TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice went under the hammer in London on Tuesday (local time) at an auction of film and television costumes.

Firth’s costume – including boots, moleskin breeches and velvet waistcoat – had been expected to fetch between £7000-£10,000 ($13,676-$19,537) during a sale at Kerry Taylor Auctions.

In fact, it was finally knocked down for twice its top estimation, at £20,000. With the addition of the auction house’s buyer’s premium, the total sale price was £25,000.

The scene is a memorable UK television moment. Photo: BBC

The scene in which Firth’s brooding heartthrob emerges from a pond, startling soon-to-be true love Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle), was once voted the UK’s most memorable television moment.

It was later re-imagined in Bridgerton in a scene featuring British actor Jonathan Bailey. Firth referenced his own performance with further romantic soakings in Love, Actually and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

Other items up for sale on Tuesday included a 1950s’ Christian Dior taffeta ball gown worn by Madonna in the 1996 movie Evita. It fetched £40,000.

Johnny Depp’s costume for Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow went for £24,000.

Clothes worn by Depp as the Earl of Rochester in The Libertine and as writer JM Barrie in Finding Neverland were also among some 60 items to under the hammer.

Proceeds from the auction will go the Bright Foundation, an arts education charity founded by Academy Award-winning costume designer John Bright. The items were donated by his costume house, Cosprop.

“My life’s work has been committed to costume design for film, TV and theater, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to pursue this path,” Bright said.

“It is my firmly held belief that the arts and creativity can shape happier and healthier children and enable young people to reach their full potential.”

-with AAP