‘Spitting Image’ Returns, Coming To BritBox UK In 2020
‘Spitting Image‘ is back, as BritBox UK announces the streaming service’s first original commission will be a new series of the multi-BAFTA-winning, multi-Emmy-nominated puppet satirical comedy, produced by Avalon.
With the world getting smaller and more turbulent, the time couldn’t be more appropriate for an iconic British satirical take on global events. 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. Celebrated ‘Spitting Image’ co-creator Roger Law will lead the show’s creative team.
“PUBLIC SERVICE SATIRE ANNOUNCEMENT,” shouts Roger Law, Spitting Image co-creator and Executive Producer. “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!”
A next-generation of satirical writers and voice artists are currently being assembled to drive a new wave of ‘public service satire’ set to return this autumn on BritBox. 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.
“We cannot wait to bring back Spitting Image,” commented Reemah Sakaan, Group Director ITV SVOD and Chief Creative & Brand Officer BritBox. “BritBox is the natural home for the sharpest satirical wit and craft in the UK industry. The timing couldn’t be better to present a new series on a new service with a uniquely British point of view.”
‘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 (who wore a man’s suit and treated her Cabinet, “the vegetables” with utter contempt), Paul Gascoigne (with water constantly jetting from his eyes), John Major (a painted grey puppet to reflect his perceived dull personality), Michael Heseltine (as Tarzan), Ronald Reagan (shown in bed with two red call buttons, one marked ‘Nurse’, the other ‘Nuke’), 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). The show also had success in the Official Music Charts with ‘The Chicken Song’ (parodying ‘Agadoo’ by Black Lace with lyrics by ‘Red Dwarf’s Rob Grant and Doug Naylor), which had three weeks at number one in 1986.
For those of you unfamiliar with BritBox, it is another subscription streaming service… It costs £5.99 per month in HD and includes British TV boxsets from All 4 and British films from Film 4, along with content from Channel 5, and original British comedies from Comedy Central UK. BritBox features the biggest collection of British content available on any streaming service, and brand new commissions for British production companies specifically created for BritBox. BritBox also offers expert curation and playlists that will enable viewers to easily find programmes they know and discover new favourites via web, mobile, tablet, connected TVs and streaming devices including Fire TV, Apple TV & Chromecast.
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.
