It has been confirmed that the classic satrical TV show Spitting Image is to return. It will be the first original commission from new streaming service Britbox.
Spitting Image co-creator Roger Law will lead the show’s creative team.
Produced by Avalon (The Russell Howard Hour, Taskmaster, Catastrophe, Breeders, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver), development of the puppets is already underway with Dominic Cummings, James Corden, Donald Trump, RuPaul, Boris Johnson, Beyoncé, Elon Musk, Harry & Meghan, Bernie Sanders, Prince Andrew, Adele, and Vladimir Putin all falling under the show’s legendary gaze. A next generation of satirical writers and voice artists are currently being assembled to drive a new wave of ‘public service satire’. In keeping with the 80s and 90s, some scripts will be written and new puppets made close to delivery to ensure each week’s episode is as topical as possible.
Roger Law, Spitting Image co-creator and Executive Producer, said: “PUBLIC SERVICE SATIRE ANNOUNCEMENT. I've refused to resuscitate Spitting Image for years but when my pension ran out and my palm was crossed with silver what could an old man do? The new Spitting Image will be global through a uniquely British eye, it will be more outrageous, audacious and salacious than the previous incarnation. With scandalous scripts and A-List characters, it will be the people's programme! "
"When Dominic Cummings finally gets the boot, Spitting Image will give him a job. We've always employed weirdos and are sure Dom will be a great asset, he seems to hate politicians as much as we do. We will take back control from the likes of BoJo, Trump, Harry & Meghan, Elon Musk, and Kim Kardashian. We will be dazzled and amazed by Jurgen Klopp & Beyonce, we will have regular weather updates from our roving reporter Greta Thunberg. The timing is right, the puppets are ready, the people have spoken. And the message for the doomsayers and gloomsters is, this autumn we will get BritBox done!”
Jon Thoday, Executive Producer at Avalon, said: “With the world becoming an ever smaller place I am delighted BritBox have the ambition to keep the UK at the centre of international satire.”
Spitting Image ran for a total of 18 series between 1984 and 1996, and proved no one was safe from ridicule in puppet form, as public figures including Margaret Thatcher, Paul Gascoigne (with water constantly jetting from his eyes), John Major (a grey puppet to reflect his perceived dull personality), Michael Heseltine (as Tarzan), Ronald Reagan, Mick Jagger (always high with huge rubber lips), Mikhail Gorbachev (with a hammer and sickle birthmark) and the Royal Family (The Queen Mother was often seen slugging from a gin bottle while The Queen studied the horse-racing pages).
BritBox subscribers will be able to enjoy Spitting Image exclusively on the service from Autumn 2020, and a second series will follow in 2021. Further announcements on the show will be made in due course.
