Spitting Image is a British satirical television puppet show, created by Peter Fluck, Roger Law and Martin Lambie-Nairn.
| FactSnippet No. 828,263 |
14 Facts About Spitting Image
2.
One of the most-watched shows of the 1980s, Spitting Image satirised politics, entertainment, sport and British popular culture of the era.
| FactSnippet No. 828,264 |
3.
In 1984, the first episode of Spitting Image was aired with a laugh track, apparently at the insistence of Central Television.
| FactSnippet No. 828,265 |
4.
Rob Grant and Doug Naylor were then brought in as head writers to save the show; by 1986, under their supervision, Spitting Image had become popular, producing a number one song on the UK Singles Chart .
| FactSnippet No. 828,266 |
5.
Spitting Image had a short-running dispute with the Independent Broadcasting Authority in 1985, over the use of subliminal images.
| FactSnippet No. 828,267 |
6.
Spitting Image was originally a public school boy, wearing grey shorts, blazer and cap.
| FactSnippet No. 828,268 |
7.
Spitting Image's catchphrase was "I'M THE LEADER" in reference to his attempt to lead the Labour Party.
| FactSnippet No. 828,269 |
8.
Spitting Image lampooned US President Ronald Reagan as a bumbling, nuke-obsessed fool in comparison with his advisors Edwin Meese and Caspar Weinberger.
| FactSnippet No. 828,270 |
9.
The Spitting Image version, "Da Do Run Ron", was a spoof election campaign song for Ronald Reagan, featuring Nancy Reagan listing reasons to elect her husband.
| FactSnippet No. 828,271 |
10.
In 1986, the Spitting Image puppets released "The Chicken Song", a parody of "Agadoo" by Black Lace – one of several parodies to have featured in the programme, mimicking novelty records and holiday songs with a repetitive tunes and nonsensical lyrics.
| FactSnippet No. 828,272 |
11.
In 1986, the Spitting Image team experienced some real musical success when they created the video for "Land of Confusion" by Genesis, a song which implied that Thatcher and Reagan were about to bring the world to a nuclear war.
| FactSnippet No. 828,273 |
12.
Spitting Image launched the careers of and featured many then-unknown British comedians and actors, including Hugh Dennis, Steve Coogan and Harry Enfield.
| FactSnippet No. 828,274 |
13.
John Lloyd held talks with a number of people who voiced the Spitting Image puppets, including John Sessions, Harry Enfield and Rory Bremner, with all responding positively.
| FactSnippet No. 828,275 |
14.
Spitting Image was briefly shown in France on the private TV channel M6 in English with French subtitles.
| FactSnippet No. 828,276 |