ELECTION SPECIAL MAY LEAVE POLITICIANS SPITTING MAD
Spitting Image has turned its satirical eye on the US election. finds out what’s in store
EVEN those of us who weren’t born during its 1980s heyday know about Spitting Image – those puppets are simply unmistakable, a trademark of a programme that never shied away from poking fun at celebrities and the establishment.
Some famous folk came off better than others, but everybody was fair game.
The first series was broadcast in 1984; a further 17 hit our screens until 1996 when, due to dwindling audience figures, the plug was pulled. At its peak, around 15 million people tuned in, so it came as no surprise when plans were announced a decade later to revive it.
However, the idea was shelved and fans had to wait until this year for the show to make its triumphant return to our screens.
Can Spitting Image’s take on the US election be funnier than fact?
Roger Law, co-creator of the original series, said of the revamp: “Everything the team have done on the new Spitting Image shows, the caricatures, puppets and satirical gags, have all been done in the public interest
– as Boris might say ‘Pro bono publico’.
“We’re taking back control from the likes of Boris, Cummings, Trump, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. There are tonguelashings from our weather girl Greta Thunberg, you’ll
be knocked out by Tyson Fury and dazzled and amazed by Beyoncé and Herr Jurgen Klopp.”
So far not everyone has been able to tune in – only those with a subscription to BritBox can see the episodes, which became available to stream earlier this month. However, this special edition is free to all.
ITV is expecting a major ratings winner after it was revealed that official Spitting Image content has been viewed on social media by more than 85 million viewers; three of its videos have been No 1 trends on YouTube – which shows there’s certainly still an audience for it out there.
So far, we don’t know what the team behind the show has in store for President Trump and his challenger, Joe Biden, but the race to the White House has already provided plenty of material – the writers and performers must be rubbing their hands with glee.
BritBox’s Chief Creative and Brand Officer Reemah Sakaan says: “We’ve been excited about the timing of the US election for this series of Spitting Image for months... and it certainly doesn’t seem to be letting us down in terms of material for satire, so we commissioned a bonus episode that we are excited to share with both ITV and BritBox audiences.”
“This is a great chance to celebrate Spitting Image’s noisy return and give ITV viewers a taste of the full series,” adds Kevin Lygo, BritBox Originals Creative Chief and ITV’s Director of TV.
The aforementioned Roger Law puts things rather more succinctly: “Spitting Image returns to ITV for a one-off special on the October 31 at 10pm. Halloween. How very appropriate.”
As the programme is always topical, the special will be filmed at the last minute to ensure every twist and turn is covered – and mercilessly lampooned, of course.
Spitting Image: US Election Special is on Saturday, ITV at 10pm
BLACK WATER: ABYSS (15) ★★★★★
THRILL-SEEKER Eric (Luke Mitchell) and his girlfriend Jennifer (Jessica McNamee) invite good friends Yolanda (Amali Golden) and Viktor (Benjamin Hoetjes) on an expedition to a remote, uncharted cave system. They are joined by Eric’s friend Cash (Anthony J Sharpe), who discovered the cave. When a storm blows in shortly after the group abseil into the mouth of the cave, they stumble upon a subterranean lake. A nearby river floods its banks and the group is trapped below ground with at least one flesh-hungry crocodile. Black Water: Abyss is a bloodthirsty, waterlogged horror.
Download/stream and available on DVD from November 2.
HIS HOUSE (15) – PREVIEW
BRITISH writer-director Remi Weekes makes an assured feature debut with a tightly wound horror thriller set in an unnamed English town, which harbours murderous secrets.
Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) escape war-torn South Sudan in the hope of a stable future far from the conflict. They risk their lives on a perilous night-time boat crossing. The couple are taken to a detention centre and are eventually allocated a home to call their own. Bol and Rial transform the rundown and dirty property into a sanctuary.
However, the peace and security they crave is supplanted by fear because the refugees are convinced that they are not alone in the house.
Streaming from October 30 on Netflix.