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Newzoid: Russell Brand, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage to get Spitting Image treatment on new ITV puppet show

The talent behind hit satirical puppet show reunites to lampoon MPs and celebrities

Matilda Battersby
Wednesday 11 February 2015 06:29 EST
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Beyonce, Boris Johnson, Putin, Nigel Farage, Russell Brand and Andy Murray all get the Spitting Image treatment from Newzoids
Beyonce, Boris Johnson, Putin, Nigel Farage, Russell Brand and Andy Murray all get the Spitting Image treatment from Newzoids (PA)

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Russell Brand, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson must prepare to have their strings yanked as some of the talent behind Spitting Image reunite for a new prime time puppet show.

ITV’s new six-part series Newzoids promises a “biting look at the world of politics and celebrity” and will include impressions by Spitting Image veterans Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson.

Unlike Spitting Image, which primarily targeted establishment figures and politicians, Newzoids will also lampoon celebrities such as Beyonce, Harry Styles and Simon Cowell.

Politicians have not escaped, however, with David Cameron and Nick Clegg among the first characters to receive the Newzoid treatment, along with fellow politicos Ukip leader Farage and London Mayor Johnson.

Other targets include talk show host Jeremy Kyle and I’m A Celebrity… duo Ant and Dec.

Margaret Thatcher was a key target for Spitting Image
Margaret Thatcher was a key target for Spitting Image (Getty)

Spitting Image, which ran for more than a decade, was of the most-watched shows of the 1980s and 1990s.

Newzoids is co-produced by Citrus Television, which was set up by another Spitting Image alumnus Giles Pilbrow.

1st February 1985: Four of the voice artists on the satirical TV programme, 'Spitting Image' with some of the puppets, for which they provide voices (Margaret Thatcher, Robin Day, Vincent Price and Prince Philip). Back, left to right: Chris Barrie, Jon Glover, Enn Reitel. Front: Steve Nallon.
1st February 1985: Four of the voice artists on the satirical TV programme, 'Spitting Image' with some of the puppets, for which they provide voices (Margaret Thatcher, Robin Day, Vincent Price and Prince Philip). Back, left to right: Chris Barrie, Jon Glover, Enn Reitel. Front: Steve Nallon. (Getty Images)

"ITV has a rich history of playing popular satirical comedy in peaktime on its main channel, and it seemed a good time to revive it this year,” ITV's director of entertainment Elaine Bedell said.

“We are pleased to be adding to our growing comedy portfolio with this funny and biting look at the world of politics and celebrity."

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