| Spitting Image | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for the first series featuring from L–R:Meghan Markle,Prince Harry,Donald Trump,Kanye West andVladimir Putin. | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Peter Fluck Roger Law Martin Lambie-Nairn |
| Voices of | |
| Music by | Willie Dowling |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2(main series) 1(The Rest Is Bulls*!t) |
| No. of episodes | 20(main series) 11(The Rest Is Bulls*!t) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jeff Westbrook Richard Allen-Turner Joanna Beresford Roger Law Jon Thoday Nana Hughes (Britbox) |
| Producer | Matt Stronge |
| Running time | 30 minutes(main series) 11–14 minutes(The Rest Is Bulls*!t) |
| Production company | Avalon Television[1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | BritBox |
| Release | 3 October 2020 (2020-10-03) – 2 December 2021 (2021-12-02) |
| Network | YouTube |
| Release | 4 July 2025 (2025-07-04) – present |
Spitting Image is a Britishsatirical televisionpuppet show. It is a revival of the1984 series of the same name created byPeter Fluck,Roger Law andMartin Lambie-Nairn. Similar to the original, the series features puppetcaricatures of contemporary celebrities, such asAdele,James Corden, andKanye West, as well as public figures, including BritishPrime MinisterBoris Johnson, several Conservative cabinet members such asMichael Gove,Dominic Raab andPriti Patel, andUS PresidentDonald Trump.
ITV had plans for a reboot in 2006, but these were scrapped after a dispute over theAnt & Dec puppets used to hostBest Ever Spitting Image, which were created against Law's wishes.[2] In September 2019, Law announced the show would be returning with a new series.[3] It was confirmed in March 2020 that the show would return onBritBox.[4] Featuring 100 new puppets, the series debuted on 3 October that year.[5] It was renewed for a second series four days later.[6] The second series premiered on 11 September 2021.[7] The show was cancelled by ITV on 24 October 2022,[8] and was revived in July 2025 as a YouTube series titledThe Rest Is Bulls*!t.[9]
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In April 2017, it was reported that US broadcasterHBO was set to revive the series in light of thepresidency of Donald Trump. However, no immediate official confirmation or announcement was made.[24] In September 2019, the show was confirmed to be returning to screens twenty-three years after it originally ended, with the unveiling of the puppets of Trump,Vladimir Putin,Mark Zuckerberg,Prince Harry andMeghan Markle.[25] Roger Law stated that the pilot for the new series had been filmed and that talks were in progress with US networks to take the show to a larger, global audience.[3] According to Law, the revival is set to have a global appeal through a "uniquely British eye".[4] OriginallyNBC was set to distribute the series in the US; however, it backed out weeks before its initial broadcast. Executive producerJon Thoday cited the network's "nervousness" with the series' content as the reason for its departure.[26]
The writers for the revival includeJeff Westbrook,Al Murray,The Windsors creators Bert Tyler-Moore and George Jeffrie,Bill Odenkirk,David X. Cohen,Jason Hazeley,Keisha Zollar,Patric Verrone,Phil Wang, andSophie Duker.[27]
On 4 March 2020, the show was announced to be returning on the streaming serviceBritBox, as its first official commission.[4] The show premiered on the service on 3 October 2020, featuring the voice talents ofBilly West,Debra Stephenson,Debra Wilson,Guz Khan,Indira Varma,Jess Robinson,John DiMaggio,Lewis MacLeod,Lobo Chan,Matt Forde, andPhil LaMarr.
In an interview from July 2021, Law said that the second series would go massively over-budget like Boris Johnson's policies with full support from BritBox. He also said that the series would not be adding many new political figures, instead adding several footballers.[28]
Following thedeath of Elizabeth II in September 2022, ITV made the decision to write off £9 million which had been spent on several remaining unaired episodes ofSpitting Image; they could not be effectively edited to remove reference to Elizabeth, and it was felt highly unlikely that they would now ever be broadcast.[29]
In October 2022, it was announced that the revived series had been cancelled by ITV.[30] However, in 2025, the show was revived under the titleSpitting Image Presents: The Rest is Bulls*!t (a parody ofThe Rest Is series byGoalhanger Podcasts), with the first episode releasing toYouTube on 4 July 2025. The series is depicted as avodcast - presented by Prince Harry and a dishevelled, heavilySouth American-accented caricature ofPaddington Bear - as the hosts interview a variety of guests and commentate on short sketches, with the format designed to take advantage ofscrolling-based content platforms.[31]
StudioCanal, who own the rights to thePaddington movies, announced in October 2025 that they - alongside with the estate of creatorMichael Bond - have begun legal proceedings against Avalon for design infringement regarding the use of the character.[31]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Andy De Emmony, Steve Connelly | Gemma Arrowsmith,David X. Cohen,Matt Forde,Jason Hazeley, George Jeffrie, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns, Tom Neenan,Bill Odenkirk,Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore,Patric M. Verrone,Phil Wang, Jeff Westbrook,Keisha Zollar | 3 October 2020 (2020-10-03) |
| 2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Andy De Emmony, Steve Connelly | David X. Cohen,Sophie Duker, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, George Jeffrie, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns,Al Murray, Bill Odenkirk, Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 10 October 2020 (2020-10-10) |
| 3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Andy De Emmony, Steve Connelly | David X. Cohen, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Noah James, George Jeffrie, F. Maxwell, Jordan Maxwell, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Bill Odenkirk, Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Phil Wang, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 17 October 2020 (2020-10-17) |
| 4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Andy De Emmony, Steve Connelly | Gemma Arrowsmith, David X. Cohen, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Laura Major, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Bill Odenkirk, Brona C. Titley, Nico Tatarowicz, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 24 October 2020 (2020-10-24) |
| 5 | 5 | "US Election Special (Part 1)" | Andy De Emmony, Steve Connelly | David X. Cohen, Sophie Duker, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, George Jeffrie, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Bill Odenkirk, Brona C. Titley, Nico Tatarowicz, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 31 October 2020 (2020-10-31)[a] |
| 6 | 6 | "US Election Special (Part 2)" | Andy De Emmony, Steve Connelly | David X. Cohen, George Jeffrie, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns, Bill Odenkirk, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 31 October 2020 (2020-10-31) |
| 7 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Steve Connelly, Andy De Emmony | David X. Cohen, Sophie Duker, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, George Jeffrie, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Pierre Novellie, Bill Odenkirk, Brona C. Titley, Nico Tatarowicz, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 7 November 2020 (2020-11-07) |
| 8 | 8 | "Episode 8" | Steve Connelly, Andy De Emmony | Gemma Arrowsmith, David X. Cohen, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, George Jeffrie, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Tom Neenan, Bill Odenkirk, Brona C. Titley, Nico Tatarowicz, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 14 November 2020 (2020-11-14) |
| 9 | 9 | "Episode 9" | Steve Connelly, Andy De Emmony | David X. Cohen, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Travis Jay, George Jeffrie, Laura Major, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Bill Odenkirk, Brona C. Titley, Nico Tatarowicz, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 21 November 2020 (2020-11-21) |
| 10 | 10 | "Episode 10" | Steve Connelly, Andy De Emmony | David X. Cohen, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, George Jeffrie, Laura Major, F. Maxwell, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Bill Odenkirk, Brona C. Titley, Nico Tatarowicz, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 28 November 2020 (2020-11-28) |
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Steve Bendelack, Adam Miller | Matt Forde,Jason Hazeley, Sarah Isaacson, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Sarah Morgan, Megan Neuringer,Bill Odenkirk, Matt Stronge,Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore,Patric M. Verrone,Jeff Westbrook | 11 September 2021 (2021-09-11) |
| 12 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Adam Miller, Steve Bendelack,David Sant | Catherine Brinkworth, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley,Rich Fulcher, Laura Major, Karl Minns,Al Murray, Bill Odenkirk, Elizabeth V. Suggs, Nico Tatarwicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook | 18 September 2021 (2021-09-18) |
| 13 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Steve Bendelack, Adam Miller | Catherine Brinkworth, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Sarah Isaacson, George Jeffrie, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Megan Neuringer, Bill Odenkirk, Nico Tartowicz, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 25 September 2021 (2021-09-25) |
| 14 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Adam Miller, Steve Bendelack, David Sant | Catherine Brinkworth, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Sarah Isaacson, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Sarah Morgan, Megan Neuringer, Bill Odenkirk, Elizabeth V. Suggs, Matt Stronge, Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 2 October 2021 (2021-10-02) |
| 15 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Steve Bendelack, Adam Miller | Catherine Brinkworth, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Sarah Isaacson, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Megan Neuringer, Bill Odenkirk, Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 9 October 2021 (2021-10-09) |
| 16 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Adam Miller, Steve Bendelack, David Sant | Catherine Brinkworth, Matt Forde, Rich Fulcher, Jason Hazeley, Sarah Isaacson, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Sarah Morgan, Megan Neuringer, Bill Odenkirk, Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 16 October 2021 (2021-10-16) |
| 17 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Steve Bendelack, Adam Miller, David Sant | Catherine Brinkworth, Matt Forde, Rich Fulcher, Jason Hazeley, Sarah Isaacson, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Sarah Morgan, Tom Neenan, Megan Neuringer, Bill Odenkirk, Nico Tatarowicz, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook | 22 October 2021 (2021-10-22) |
| 18 | 8 | "Halloween Special" | Adam Miller, Steve Bendelack, David Sant | Catherine Brinkworth, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Sarah Isaacson, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Sarah Morgan, Megan Neuringer, Bill Odenkirk, Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert Tyler-Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 30 October 2021 (2021-10-30)[b] |
| 19 | 9 | "Episode 9" | Steve Bendelack, Adam Miller | Catherine Brinkworth, Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Sarah Isaacson, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Tom Neenan, Megan Neuringer, Bill Odenkirk, Matt Stronge, Nico Tatarowicz, Bert-Tyler Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook, Keisha Zollar | 6 November 2021 (2021-11-06) |
| 20 | 10 | "Spitting Image: Christmas Special 2021" | Steve Bendelack, Adam Miller | Matt Forde, Jason Hazeley, Laura Major, Karl Minns, Al Murray, Sarah Morgan, Nico Tatarowicz, Brona C. Titley, Bert-Tyler Moore, Patric M. Verrone, Jeff Westbrook | 2 December 2021 (2021-12-02)[c] |
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 4 July 2025 (2025-07-04) |
| 2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 19 September 2025 (2025-09-19) |
| 3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 26 September 2025 (2025-09-26) |
| 4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 3 October 2025 (2025-10-03) |
| 5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 10 October 2025 (2025-10-10) |
| 6 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 17 October 2025 (2025-10-17) |
| 7 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 24 October 2025 (2025-10-24) |
| 8 | 8 | "Episode 8" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 31 October 2025 (2025-10-31) |
| 9 | 9 | "Episode 9" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 7 November 2025 (2025-11-07) |
| 10 | 10 | "Episode 10" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 14 November 2025 (2025-11-14) |
| 11 | 11 | "Episode 11" | Matt Stronge | Al Murray, Matt Forde | 21 November 2025 (2025-11-21) |
The series received mixed reviews from critics. The decision to satiriseGreta Thunberg garnered criticism as she was a minor at the time.[34]
Mark Lawson ofThe Guardian wrote approvingly in his four-out-of-five star review that "[a]dmirers of the franchise will be relieved that the revival ... has lost none of its savagery or willingness to shock."[35] In his three-out-of-five star review, Ralph Jones ofNME lauded the series' ability to satirise timely events, "its topicality is admirable: there are several sketches here about events that occurred as little as 12 hours before the recording. This is impressive on the radio but when puppets are involved, it’s almost breathtaking."[36]
The Economist was more mixed in their analysis, calling it "pretty tame" in light of the current political atmosphere and when compared to its 1984 predecessor, writing how "[i]n an era of cynicism and conspiracy theories, the radical act would be to make a show that celebrated public life."[37]
Ed Power ofThe Telegraph was negative in his one-out-of-five star review pertaining to the two-part US election special, calling it "toothless" in its satire.[38] Also writing forThe Guardian, columnistNesrine Malik similarly described the new series as a "toothless performance" and the jokes "excruciatingly obvious".[39]
On 16 September 2021, a German version ofSpitting Image calledThe Krauts' Edition began to air on the TV channelSky. The German version has new puppets, includingSebastian Kurz,Jan Böhmermann,Annalena Baerbock,Karl Lauterbach,Markus Lanz,Heidi Klum,Thomas Müller,Olaf Scholz,Barbara Schöneberger,Armin Laschet, andAdolf Hitler. Puppets used in the British version such asAngela Merkel,Jurgen Klopp, andCoronavirus, also appear in this version.[40][41]
A stage show titledIdiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical opened at theBirmingham Repertory Theatre on 1 February 2023 and ran until 12 March. It was written byAl Murray,Matt Forde, andSean Foley, and directed by Foley.[42] New puppets made for the show includedSuella Braverman,Volodymyr Zelenskyy,Jacob Rees-Mogg,Paddington Bear, andNigel Farage.[43]On 23 March 2023, it was announced that the musical would be open at thePhoenix Theatre, at London's West End, from 24 May 2023.[44]
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