"Spitting Image" (1984) TV series 1984-1996

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Directors:

Steve Bendelack
Richard Bradley

Writers:

Geoff Atkinson (writer)
David Baddiel (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | unknown

Release Date:

26 February 1984 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A satire show using puppets that are charicatures of major public figures.

Plot Keywords:

Puppet | Satire | Royal Family | Politics

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Chris Barrie	...	Ronald Reagan / ... (5 episodes, 1984)
Steve Nallon	...	Margaret Thatcher / ... (5 episodes, 1984)
Chris Emmett	...	Various (5 episodes, 1984)
Jon Glover	...	Various (5 episodes, 1984)
Phil Cool	...	Various (2 episodes, 1984)
Philip Pope	...	Bob Dylan (2 episodes, 1984)

Also Known As:

"Spitting Back" (UK) (reissue title)

Runtime:

25 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:15

Company:

Central Television

Trivia:

One of the generic puppets used as an extra in many scenes was a Lord Lucan look-alike. He would often appear as a waiter, barman or just in the background of many sketches in foreign settings. The real Lord Lucan Vanished without trace in 1974 on suspicion of murdering the family nanny and there had been numerous unsubstantiated sightings of him published in the press for years afterwards.

Quotes:

Waitress: [Thatcher is dining out with her Cabinet] Would you like to order, Sir?
Margaret Thatcher: Steak, please.
Waitress: How would you like it?
Margaret Thatcher: Raw
Waitress: And what about the vegetables?
Margaret Thatcher: Oh? They'll have the same as me...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Very Best of 'Have I Got News for You' (2002) (V)

a breath of fresh air

I watched most of these shows when they came out on ITV/Channel 4. I was relieved to find someone shining the light on current events. It was funnier than anything else on TV and years ahead of it's time. Britain and the world was suffering a new wave of greed and corruption by the USA and the corporations (many of whom the British Royals were only too happy to do business with) of the world who were accelerating the growth of today's problems. Unfortunately most people don't see the truth nowadays. It's necessary to be crude and vituperative (gosh, I had to look that one up - I'll be using that one at the next Conservative get-together!!!). I look forward to it being released on DVD.