Spitting Image

This article is about the 1984–1996 television series. For the 2020 television series, see Spitting Image (2020 TV series). For other uses, see Spitting Image (disambiguation).

Spitting Image
Official logo
Genre
Created by
Voices of
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series18
No. of episodes134
Production
Production locations
Running time30 to 60 minutes
Production companySpitting Image Productions for Central
Original release
NetworkITV
Release26 February 1984 (1984-02-26) –
18 February 1996 (1996-02-18)
Related
Spitting Image (revival series)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Spitting Image is a British satirical television puppet show, created by Peter Fluck, Roger Law and Martin Lambie-Nairn. First broadcast in 1984, the series was produced by 'Spitting Image Productions' for Central Independent Television over 18 series which aired on the ITV network. The series was nominated and won numerous awards, including ten BAFTA Television Awards, and two Emmy Awards in 1985 and 1986 in the Popular Arts Category.[2][3] The series features puppet caricatures of contemporary celebrities and public figures, including British Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major and the British royal family. The series was the first to caricature Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (as an elderly gin-drinker with a Beryl Reid voice).[4]

One of the most-watched shows of the 1980s, Spitting Image satirised politics, entertainment, sport and British popular culture of the era. At its peak, the show was watched by 15 million people.[5] The popularity of the show saw collaborations with musicians, including Phil Collins and Sting. The series was cancelled in 1996 after viewing figures declined. ITV had plans for a new series in 2006, but these were scrapped after a dispute over the Ant & Dec puppets used to host Best Ever Spitting Image, which were created against Roger Law's wishes.[6] In 2018, Law donated his entire archive – including scripts, puppet moulds, drawings and recordings – to the University of Cambridge.[7] In 2019, Law announced the show would be returning with a new series.[8][9] The revived series debuted on 3 October 2020 on BritBox, and featured caricatures of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump.[10] It was cancelled in 2022.[11]

  1. ^ a b Bentley, David (3 July 2013). "TV programmes made in Birmingham: Spitting Image". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference 30 Facts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "British TV scoops Emmys". The Times. London. 26 November 1986. p. 11.
  4. ^ "Spitting Image creator John Lloyd: 'Television lacks satire'" Archived 3 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2015
  5. ^ "Spitting Image" Archived 18 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2015
  6. ^ "Ant and Dec stunt ends 'Spitting Image' return". Digital Spy. 17 November 2006. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007.
  7. ^ "Spitting Image archives donated to Cambridge University". BBC. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Spitting Image show plots return to TV after 23 years". BBC. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Spitting Image to return on BritBox, 24 years after the TV show ended". BBC. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  10. ^ Cremona, Patrick (11 September 2020). "Spitting Image revival to debut on BritBox next month with 100 new puppets including Boris Johnson and Donald Trump". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  11. ^ Sherwin, Adam (24 October 2022). "Spitting Image has been cancelled by ITV despite national need for political satire, says star Matt Forde". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2024.