Newzoids. Copyright: Citrus Television
Newzoids

Newzoids

  • TV sketch show
  • ITV1
  • 2015 - 2016
  • 12 episodes (2 series)

Topical satirical sketch show featuring puppets. Stars Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson, Lewis Macleod, Simon Greenall, Jon Clegg and more.

Press clippings

Comedy.co.uk Awards 2016 shortlists announced

The shortlists for the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2016 have been revealed. 60 shows are in the running for the Comedy Of The Year title. Voting is now open.

British Comedy Guide, 16th January 2017

Idris Elba really loved his Newzoids character

Perfect jaw line, husky voice AND a great sense of humour.

Ellie Harrison, Radio Times, 20th September 2016

The second series of the potshot puppet satire continues. It may be more interested in being mean about celebrities than angry at politicians, but at least Newzoids has a distinctive look: the primitive Action Man-style marionettes with weirdly slick CGI mouths are vividly grotesque. Tonight's instalment also promises some blue-on-blue action by taking an axe to ITV2 totem Keith Lemon and Xtra Factor host Rylan Clark-Neal among others.

Graeme Virtue, The Guardian, 17th September 2016

I fear satire is dead, and those fears seemed confirmed when the new series of this satirical show was dumped on Saturday night TV. You only need to glance at the listings for a Saturday night to see this is not where quality programmes are scheduled. This is the land of Strictly and The X Factor - so what is Newzoids doing here? It's a satirical show using puppets and animation and the last series was like a blander version of Spitting Image.

I'm hoping they've upped their game for the new one because we desperately need tough and iconoclastic satirical TV. New characters for this series include Donald Trump, Jeremy Corbyn, Adele and Theresa May. The Trump puppet's voice is scarily identical to the real thing - and a sports a toupee that is made of fluffy golden kittens.

Julie McDowall, The National (Scotland), 3rd September 2016

Debra Stephenson and Jon Culshaw interview

Debra Stephenson has turned her attention to her impression skills in recent years, joining forces with fellow impressionist Jon Culshaw on a number of shows, including their current hit, Newzoids.

The Sun, 18th August 2016

Donald Trump's Newzoids puppet is truly hair-raising

The Republican Party's presidential nominee is the first of 50 new characters unveiled for the satirical shows second six-part series next month, as well as Hillary Clinton, Jeremy Corbyn, Adele, Danny Dyer, Zayn Malik and Bear Grylls.

Mark Jefferies, The Mirror, 3rd August 2016

Newzoids to return for Series 2

ITV's topical animated satirical sketch show Newzoids is to return for a second series.

British Comedy Guide, 9th May 2016

It's the week after the week after the election: potentially a news dead zone. How will this perky puppet-based satire cope, with its excellent Miliband and Clegg impersonations presumably now mothballed? David Cameron's promised first 100 days of pain should already be taking shape, although that would mean material more darkly political than the personal lampoons this show thrives on. Perhaps he'll be selfconsciously fluffing his tiny majority. If not, Newzoids always has its ace songs to fall back on. Last in the series.

Jack Seale, The Guardian, 20th May 2015

Miranda Hart puppet introduced in Newzoids

Call the Midwife star makes special appearance at the Royal Birth.

Danny Walker, The Mirror, 29th April 2015

More Punch and Judy politics as the would-be satirical puppet show continues. Newzoids may never escape the shadow of Spitting Image but it doesn't skimp on the sketch count, rattling through character assassinations, pop-culture mashups and song parodies at a fair old clip. If the political material sometimes lacks bite, at least the writers are taking advantage of the material at their doorstep: when it's skewering ITV's own Ant & Dec, Broadchurch or Jeremy Kyle, Newzoids generates an appreciable transgressive charge.

Graeme Virtue, The Guardian, 29th April 2015

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