The Return Of Spitting Image, 2020
Spitting Image had been riding high in the ratings from 1984, but by 1995 audiences were beginning to dwindle and the show was cancelled.
The series continued to attract interest and in 2004 the idea of the series coming back began to surface after John Lloyd held talks with ITV executives about the show’s return.
Let’s Do It!
He also held talks with a number of people who voiced the Spitting Image puppets, including: John Sessions, Harry Enfield and Rory Bremner, with all responding positively. John Lloyd commented “There’s enormous enthusiasm from ITV to do it. We’re just trying to work out how it would be affordable. The budget is about to go off to ITV,” he said. “Everybody seems to have residual affection for Spitting Image. It could be scrappy and uneven, but it’s rather like a newspaper. You don’t expect it to be brilliant every time, but there’s something delicious in every edition.”
Oops!
It was early 2006 and the waters were about to be tested with documentary “Best Ever Spitting Image”. The idea was that if viewing figures were good ITV may resurrect the show. The show went out on 25th June 2006, but rather than lead to a new series the special actually prevented ITV directly resurrecting the famous satire as they had planned. This was because it featured new puppets of Ant and Dec – a move which was against the wishes of Roger Law, who owned the rights to the Spitting Image brand.
Time To Return!
It was 2019 when Roger Law announced that finally Spitting Image would return for a new series. In March 2020 this was backed up with the announcement the show was indeed returning and would begin streaming later in the year on Britbox.
The series made it’s debut on 3rd October 2020 with 100 new puppets. Within a week a second series had been commissioned.
Summary
Like the original rubber caricature puppets poke fun at at popular public and celebrity figures usually featured in the proceeding week’s news.
Clips
warning: some clips contain strong language and may cause offence
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Voices
Various including: Debra Stephenson, Lewis MacLeod, Steve Nallon, Matt Forde
Details
Channel: Britbox
Created By: Roger Law, Peter Fluck and Martin Lambie-Nairn
Original Transmission Dates: 3rd October 2020 – present