Spitting Image
- TV sketch show
- BritBox / ITV1
- 1984 - 2021
- 161 episodes (22 series)
Groundbreaking, long-running and hugely popular satirical sketch show with a cast of grotesque latex puppets. Stars Chris Emmett, Jon Glover, Phil Cool, Jan Ravens, Chris Barrie and more.
Press clippings
GB News reached peak facepalm as this guest's Thatcher quote turned out to be from Spitting Image
Over on GB News, where facts and professionalism go to die, a guest shared what he thought was an anecdote about Margaret Thatcher's no-nonsense handling of her cabinet, but it was actually a direct quote of a Spitting Image sketch.
Oonagh Keating, The Poke, 20th March 2024The Office named top landmark comedy of the last 50 years
The Office was the highest-placed comedy in a Broadcasting Press Guild list of the top 50 landmark programmes of the last 50 years.
British Comedy Guide, 13th March 2024Steve Nallon interview: Spitting Image turns 40
As Spitting Image turns 40, the comic who voiced hit satire's iconic characters on cancel culture, the Iron Lady and why the remake flopped - as he revisits his best impressions.
Harry Howard, Daily Mail, 26th February 2024Classic UK TV sitcoms transfer to stage - and thrill the superfans
Fawlty Towers, The Fast Show, Only Fools And Horses ... the vogue for screen-to-stage shows taps into our need for nostalgia.
Rachel Aroesti, The Observer, 11th February 2024Spitting Image archives go on show at Cambridge University Library
During a 12-year run in the 1980s and 1990s, Spitting Image lampooned political leaders, celebrities and royals. As an archive of puppets, scripts and artwork goes on display, why did the show become such a major part of British culture?
Orla Moore, BBC, 30th September 2023How Spitting Image axed sketches for fear of offending Royals
It was the satirical puppet show that had a reputation for taking no prisoners. But almost a quarter of the first episode of Spitting Image was cut at the last minute for fear of offending the Royal Family, its creators have revealed.
Chortle, 3rd September 2023What happens to comedy when British politics becomes a joke?
When audiences do want something sharp, they want it to confirm prejudices.
The Economist, 17th August 2023'I didn't think it was annoying enough': how Spitting Image made The Chicken Song
'It's a piss-take of Agadoo by Black Lace, one of those mindless summer hits. Someone said "Hold a chicken in the air" and I went "Stick a deckchair up your nose". We finished it in four minutes'.
Rich Pelley, The Guardian, 29th May 2023Scrapping episodes of Spitting Image featuring the late Queen cost £9m, says ITV
ITV says it was forced to write off episodes of Spitting Image featuring the Queen following the monarch's death last year - at a cost of £9 million.
Mike Bedigan, The Scotsman, 21st March 2023There's a small Spitting Image exhibition in central London
It can be a bit of a shock to be walking along posh Jermyn Street and suddenly see the latex image of Margaret Thatcher staring back at you from a shop window. The portraits in the exhibition are by Andrew Bruce and Anna Fox, and each image depicts a former Tory party member.
Ian Visits, 8th March 2023