Spitting Image set to return... so who on Earth will they parody!
SPITTING IMAGE is set for a TV comeback – thanks to the idiosyncrasies of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump.
Producers who have been working on a pilot for the US market are now considering plans to restore the satirical puppet show to British screens.
A source at production company Avalon Television told The Mail on Sunday: ‘When Boris was elected Tory leader and they realised they had the Boris Johnson and Donald Trump show on their hands, there was a real injection of enthusiasm and things started to happen.
‘There isn’t a broadcast date as yet and, while it was primarily aimed at the US market because of the Trump factor, Boris Johnson’s election has put it right back in the frame for the UK. There is a fantastic vibe around the production because of the legendary status of the show, even though it is early days.’
Spitting Image ran for 18 series between 1984 and 1996, with viewing figures often hitting 15million. It quickly became famous for its cruel depictions of famous figures, including Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a cross-dressing tyrant, the Queen Mother as a gin-swilling drunk and US leader Ronald Reagan as a nuke-obsessed buffoon. In these politically boisterous times, distinctive figures such as Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage would – in addition to Johnson and Trump – give programme makers plenty of material.
Earlier this year, John Lloyd, the producer of the original show, said: ‘In this particular climate, I think it’s about time Spitting Image had a comeback.
‘We have slightly lost our sense of humour in this climate and no one dares speak to anyone.
‘Spitting Image is very good at airing the issues in a way that make people laugh about them.’