The Thatchers

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (13 October 1925 – 8 April 2013) was the Prime Minister of Britain between the years 1979 and 1990 and is by far and away the most memorable character of Spitting Image. She is also one of the most frequently-appearing characters, making some form of cameo in virtually every episode.

As the staff of the show were predominantly left-wing, the show took a very anti-Thatcher stance. Maggie is portrayed as an abusive tyrant and cross-dresser (she wore suits, shaved, used the urinals, was portrayed as a cigar-chomper and addressed by her Cabinet as "Sir"). The Thatcher puppet had a strong dislike of anything French (agreeing with Hitler about 'teaching those Frenchies where to go' and throwing an apple out of the window because it was French).

Thatcher's puppet was remade every series to make her look more evil. She was portrayed as an outright fascist, going so far as to take political advice from her next-door neighbour who bore a frightening resemblance to Adolf Hitler. By the second series Maggie was dressed in a suit and smoking a cigar, reminiscent of Winston Churchill. The idea behind this was suggested by Anthony Asbury, who thought making Thatcher dress like a man would highlight just how evil and insane she was.

Indeed, as the series progressed, Thatcher becomes more and more unstable. In the first series is merely treated as a bullying woman who insults her Cabinet. As the show continued she began physically abusing her staff (one specific seat in Number 10 leads to a crocodile pit, to whom she fed Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson) and growing more and more attached to Ronald Reagan, who was being shown as a stir-crazy war-hungry old coot from the first episode. Some sketches even hint towards a romantic relationship between the two world leaders.

Perhaps another aspect of the show that made Thatcher so memorable is the fact that, for the show's entire duration, she was voiced by Steve Nallon, who has achieved fame outside of Spitting Image thanks to his fantastic range of impressions. Indeed he is still hired today for private shows to do impressions of his Spitting Image characters. He has even appeared under the guise of Thatcher himself in many television shows.

Her primary puppeteer is Anthony Asbury, though Louise Gold puppeteered her in part of Series 1, Series 2 and Series 4 and also does her voice in the untransmitted pilot, shot in 1983.

Denis Thatcher

Sir Denis Thatcher, 1st Baronet (10 May 1915 – 26 June 2003) was a British businessman and the husband of Margaret Thatcher.

spoofed on the show as an old drunk, usually smoking and drinking gin. His puppet had a whining, imbecilic high voice.

Mark Thatcher

Mark Thatcher (born 15 August 1953) is a British businessman. He is the son of Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Sir Denis Thatcher.

The Cabinet

William Whitelaw

with fluffy eyebrows and wearing a tartan dressing gown to cabinet meetings.

Nigel Lawson

Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby (born 11th March 1932) was a British politician most famous for being the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the 11th June 1983 to the 26th October 1989. He resigned due to differences between his economic opinions and those of Sir Alan Walters, Thatcher's personal economic advisor.

Lawson was caricatured as a useless Chancellor, panicking about a financial crisis he had apparently caused. He is by far the worst of all the cabinet being completely unable to count to seventeen and not knowing what the FTSE 350 Index is. He was fed to the crocodiles by Thacher for giving himself exemptions in the budget. He also frequently misunderstood orders, such as phasing out the pound sterling instead of the pound note.

Friends of Lawson said he hated being laughed at more than anything else, and so hated his portrayal on the show.

Geoffrey Howe

Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe (20 December 1926 – 9 October 2015), known from 1970 to 1992 as Sir Geoffrey Howe, was Margaret Thatcher's longest-serving Cabinet minister, successively holding the posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and finally Leader of the House of Commons, Deputy Prime Minister and Lord President of the Council. His resignation on 1 November 1990 is widely considered by the British press to have precipitated Thatcher's own resignation three weeks later.

He is depicted as boring, bland and talking to sheep.

Douglas Hurd

famous for his Dalek-style voice and his hair shaped like a "Mr Whippy" ice cream. Hurd seems also the most competent and humane one in the cabinet, opposing the usage of torture and stopping the dumping of nuclear waste in Scotland

Norman Tebbit

Norman Beresford Tebbit, Baron Tebbit (born 29 March 1931) is a British politician and life peer. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1981 to 1987 as Secretary of State for Employment (1981–83), Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1983–85), Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1985–87) and Chairman of the Conservative Party (1985–87).

Tebbit was caricatured as a leather clad skinhead, who primarily served as Margaret Thatcher's enforcer. He would always refer to her as 'leader', and would physically abuse her cabinet members in order to keep them in line.

Norman Tebbit himself has said he enjoyed his portrayal on the show, and while his wife didn't, his children found it funny. In the 2007 documentary "Best Ever Spitting Image", he said he was very fond of his portrayal.

Michael Heseltine

Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine (born 21 March 1933) is a British Conservative politician and businessman. He was Minister of Defense under the Margaret Thatcher administration from 1983 to 1986. In 1986 he was forced to resign because of his involvement in the Westland Affair.

The struggling Westland company, the last British helicopter manufacturer, was to be a subject of a rescue bid. Heseltine favoured a European solution, integrating Westland and British Aerospace with Italian (Agusta) and French companies. Because his solution was ignored he resigned.

Heseltine was depicted as growing more manic with every series (and wearing a flak jacket as Defence Secretary). The real Heseltine was very fond of his portrayal on the show and it amused him and his family.

Figure 1: Vintage photo of Michael Heseltine meet his spitting Image Puppet

Leon Brittan

Leon Brittan, Baron Brittan of Spennithorne, (25 September 1939 – 21 January 2015) was a British politician, Conservative Member of Parliament, and barrister, as well as a member of the European Commission. He served several ministerial roles in Margaret Thatcher's government, including Home Secretary.

Depicted as constantly fawning towards Thatcher; often seen eating.

Norman Fowler

Peter Norman Fowler, Baron Fowler (born 2 February 1938) is a British politician who was the Minister of Transport in Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet. He was responsible for making seat belts compulsory.

portrayed during his time as Health Secretary as a hospital-murdering Jack the Ripper-style lunatic.

Cecil Parkinson

Cecil Edward Parkinson, Baron Parkinson (1 September 1931 – 22 January 2016) was a minister in Margaret Thatcher's first government in May 1979. He successfully managed the Conservative Party's 1983 election campaign, and was rewarded with an appointment as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, but was forced to resign after revelations that his former secretary was pregnant with his child.

having a sexual interest in every woman he sees.

Edwina Currie

Currie was portrayed as an evil vampiric witch and dressed in Dracula-type clothing. She didn't care about the health of British citizens, unless elections were near. Spooky music and thunder clashes often accompanied her when she spoke and scared those who surrounded her, and she was often lit from underneath, as to add to the sinister theme.

Along with Norman Tebbit and Roy Hattersley she was one of the lesser known politicians who actually became more popular thanks to her appearance in "Spitting Image".

Figure 2: Edwina Currie with her Spitting Image puppet

Paul Channon

childish.

Kenneth Baker

transforming into a slug over the series.

Nicholas Ridley

smoking and developing the countryside for houses.

Kenneth Clarke

obese and drunk despite being Minister for Health.

Peter Walker

spineless wimp

David Waddington

Fast talking and creepy

Francis Pym

Francis Leslie Pym, Baron Pym (13 February 1922 – 7 March 2008) served in various positions in the Cabinet in the 1970s and 1980s, including Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary, Northern Ireland Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons.

Depicted as one of the wets who swam in swimming pools.

James Prior

Depicted as one of the wets who swam in swimming pools.

Colin Moynihan

minuscule and childlike, called "miniature for sport"

Tom King

portrayed while Employment Secretary as The Invisible Man

The Royal Family

Queen Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.

wears a CND badge, always seemed slightly mad and picked clothes from rubbish bins

portrayed as homely, motherly type of woman, claiming "to never go to the toilet because she's queen" and often feather brained after talking too much small talk with ordinary citizens.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born 10 June 1921), is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.

the Queen's husband; was a blunderbuss-toting Greek-obsessed buffoon in naval uniform

almost always in naval uniform and was partially Greek to the fullest extent.

A lot of jokes were made about his hunting accidents and offensive remarks towards foreign cultures (which were based on real-life incidents).

One sketch showed him poking fun at the god of a Papua New Guinean tribe. As punishment their god changed him into Popeye.

Charles, Prince of Wales

Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is the heir apparent to the British throne as the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II. He has been Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay since 1952, and is the oldest and longest-serving heir apparent in British history.

was a pseudo-hippie, then a taxi driver in later episodes

In Spitting Image, he was often portrayed as a simplistic, naïve person who fought for charity, but was too odd and out of touch with the modern world to be admired. Often jokes were about his love for plants, not spending much time with Princess Diana and waiting in frustration to become King of England.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales (née Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997), was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales.

was a publicity-hungry Sloane Ranger

Most of the jokes are about her were about her numerous appointments to the hairdresser.

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was the wife of King George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. She was Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions from her husband's accession in 1936 until his death in 1952.

generally seen with a bottle of Gordon's Gin, a copy of the Racing Post, and a Beryl Reid voice; this was a running joke from a sketch in which the Royal Family's desire to conceal her Birmingham accent was the reason she was very seldom heard speaking on television. In the series she is seen with jockey Lester Piggott with whom she has an affair.

In 1985, Spitting Image met a lot of controversy when rumours spread that the show would create a puppet of the Queen Mother. Many Britons held a lot of respect for the widow of King George VI, since she stayed in London during the German bombardment of city in World War II and shared the fears and horrors many ordinary British people felt at the time. As she was already 85 years old at the time, some people felt it cruel to satirise her at such an old age.

The night the notorious episode aired, many people tuned in to see whether the rumour was true or not. The whole episode long there was no puppet of the Queen Mum. The end credits rolled on the screen, followed by a statement in which the makers of the show denied such a puppet was ever made. In a final scene, the Queen Mum's puppet did show up, expressing grief "since she looked forward to see it." Here, she was voiced by Jan Ravens.

In other episodes the Queen Mum became a regular cast member, usually portrayed as a naïve, senile, optimistic old hag who drank gin on the sly and did outrageous things that other members of the Royal Family wouldn't dare to do. She was now voiced by Steve Nallon, who caricatured her voice to sound like an imitation of the Birmingham accent of actress Beryl Reid. This is partly because the Queen Mother's actual accent is known to the general public

Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Prince Andrew, Duke of York (Andrew Albert Christian Edward, born 19 February 1960) is a member of the British royal family. He is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

caricatured as a loud mouthed buffoon who always loved to poke fun at others.

Sarah, Duchess of York

Sarah, Duchess of York (born Sarah Margaret Ferguson; 15 October 1959), also known as Fergie, is a British writer, charity patron, film producer, and television personality. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York.

a lot of jokes were about her supposed rivalry with Princess Diana and her freckles.

Anne, Princess Royal

Anne, Princess Royal, (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise; born 15 August 1950) is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, (Edward Antony Richard Louis; born 10 March 1964) is the youngest of four children and the third son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Edward was a youngster during the time that "Spitting Image" was broadcast and therefore caricatured as a college student. One sketch featured him passing immediately without an interview or tests at University, solely because the university professors want to be knighted by Prince Philip.

Another sketch showed him making subversive jokes about the Royal Family which he learned at college.

Princess Michael of Kent

Princess Michael of Kent (born Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz; 15 January 1945) is a member of the British royal family of German, Austrian and Hungarian descent. She is married to Prince Michael of Kent, a grandson of King George V.

“Princess Heinkel, you mean?”

Most puns target Princess Michael’s heritage and allegiance – her father, Günther von Reibnitz, was a member of the SS Cavalry Corps in the Nazi Germany.

“She’s parking the Panzer!”

“Don’t worry, we won’t be nazi to her!”

“Your father made the trains run on time!”

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II.

always tipsy.

Queen Victoria

Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death.

Taken by the rest of Royal family on London train (apparently as a luggage) in s03e04.

Thatcherian Politicians

Neil Kinnock

the 'Welsh Windbag', talking for hours about anything other than policies.

referred to as "The Welsh Windbag." He talked for hours about anything but his policies and seemed desperate to win the election. One early sketch features his cabinet breaking in Number 10 Downing Street.

He was often seen with partner-in-crime Roy Hattersley.

Glenys Kinnock

Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (née Parry; born 7 July 1944) is the wife of Neil Kinnock, who was leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992. She was a Labour Party Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1994 to 2009.

Roy Hattersley

Deputy leader of the labour party.

Spitting with every word because of his lisp. Personally likes Gin and orange. Publicly liked his portrayal(on 'Best Ever Spitting Image', Hattersley praised his puppet for 'putting the spit into Spitting Image'). Got his suits off the peg. Not known whether he liked polo mints.

Often seen wearing a suit. Does a superb impression of Colonel Potter off M*A*S*H.

Massive Iron Maiden fan. Regularly seen around Westminster. Once sat through an entire episode of Country Life. Once worked at a do-it-all in Scotland. Once destroyed 84 videos with a road roller. Known to be a mean Squash player.

Does not know the way to San Jose. Once went on holiday with entire tub of polyfilla.

Known to be a big fan of Magnum P.I. Does a smashing impression of Barry Manilow .

His opinion on carpets in bathrooms not known. He is a not a massive fan of Smarties.

Michael Foot

Depicted wearing large glasses, bushy grey hair and had big, plate-like mouth. He was caricatured as a senile man who often shouted and ended his sentences with the words "Yes! Argh!".

Tony Benn

a rampant socialist with eyes that never looked in the same direction.

Ken Livingstone

whose living room was filled with salamanders and snakes.

Denis Healey

with giant eyebrows, who helped to make Kinnock look foolish (the real Healey appeared in the programme in 1984).

The second live-action person to appear on the show, and as far as we’re aware the only real-life MP to ever appear on the programme (no matter how much Jeffrey Archer would have liked to have been the second). Popped up during (puppet) Sir Robin Day’s Euro Election Phone-In to point out that the European elections had actually finished a week earlier. Sir Robin replied that European elections are so damned exciting he just couldn’t wait four years for the next lot.

Gerald Kaufman

portrayed as a Hannibal Lecter-style maniac.

Arthur Scargill

who was a member of the Labour Party until 1997, appeared as head of the National Union of Mineworkers, and was portrayed as a big-nosed egotist who was ignorant about mining.

Tony Blair

In 1994, a puppet of Tony Blair made his appearance. He was originally a public school boy, wearing grey shorts, blazer and cap. His catchphrase was "I'M THE LEADER" in reference to his attempt to lead the Labour Party. When Blair did become Labour leader, the puppet changed and he was portrayed with his grin replaced with an even bigger smile if he said something of importance.

John Prescott

The deputy leader, John Prescott, was portrayed as a fat bumbling assistant, along with a squeaky voiced Robin Cook, and an enormous glasses-wearing Jack Straw.

Robin Cook

The deputy leader, John Prescott, was portrayed as a fat bumbling assistant, along with a squeaky voiced Robin Cook, and an enormous glasses-wearing Jack Straw.

Jack Straw

The deputy leader, John Prescott, was portrayed as a fat bumbling assistant, along with a squeaky voiced Robin Cook, and an enormous glasses-wearing Jack Straw.

Len Murray

Lionel Murray, Baron Murray of Epping Forest (2 August 1922 – 20 May 2004) was a British Labour Party politician and trade union leader.

John Major

When he first came in the cabinet in Series 10, Major wore a leopard-print jacket with white gloves, entering via swinging on a trapeze. He said to the Cabinet, "My father was in the circus, you know!" to which the cabinet responded with, "We know!"

John Major was then portrayed as a very dull and boring man. From Series 13 onwards, the puppet was eventually painted grey to further emphasize his dullness.

The makers of Spitting Image had a lot of trouble with Major, as he wasn't much of an inspiring character to work with when compared with the previous Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Because of this, they made Thatcher's puppet reappear in the show as the person who really controlled Major, issuing commands to him via an antenna on his head. At a certain point, in Series 15, the writers even invented an affair between Major and Virginia Bottomley to make Major more interesting in the show. (Years later, it turned out that John Major did have an affair in those years, but with Edwina Currie.)

The most famous sketch with Major featured him and his wife eating peas, while having an incredibly boring conversation. This skit became somewhat infamous that whenever the real Major makes a speech in the House of Parliament, the Opposition whispered the word "peas" and "more peas, dear?", whenever he started talking.

Norma Major

Norman Lamont

Norman Stewart Hughson Lamont, Baron Lamont of Lerwick (born 8 May 1942) is a British politician and former Conservative MP for Kingston-upon-Thames. He is best known for his period serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer, from 1990 until 1993. He was created a life peer in 1998.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer featured as part of John Major’s cabinet in multiple episodes from the tenth series onwards.

Virginia Bottomley

David Owen

David Anthony Llewellyn Owen, Baron Owen (born 2 July 1938) is a British politician and physician. In 1981, Owen was one of the "Gang of Four" who left the Labour Party to found the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Owen led the SDP from 1983 to 1987

He was lampooned regularly on the show as an arrogant, self important man who lost every election. There was a suggestion on the show he simply wanted to be in power and jumped on the bandwagon of whatever group was winning at that point. He was often depicted moving between parties in the commons, sitting on the Labour, Liberal/SDP and Conservative benches in every shot. In later series he could be seen sitting on Thatcher's cabinet avidly answering her questions and receiving her praise. David Steel , the leader of the Liberal Party with whom Owen's SDP eventually merged, was usually depicted as his adoring little sidekick. Steel confronted him on his Conservative leanings, only to be rebuffed by a Thatcher accented and wig wearing Owen.

In real life Owen is a passionate anti-smoker, and so was depicted consistently in the show smoking - often with an elaborate cigarette holder to emphasize the point.

The real Owen and Steel often blamed "Spitting Image" for people not taking them seriously as politicians during the 80s

David Steel

He was lampooned regularly on the show as the small, adoring (but sometimes bed wetting) sidekick of David Owen, with whose Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party had an electoral pact and later merged. Steel was caricatured as a naive, childlike little man who was always fooled by Owens' egotistic plans and literally lived in Owen's pocket. Originally his voice was close to Steel's real voice, but since it was a small puppet it changed into a squeakier voice to match the puppet's size.

Figure 3: The real David Steel with his puppet.

Paddy Ashdown

They were soon replaced by Paddy Ashdown, whose "equidistance" from the larger parties was satirised by his frequent appearance at the side of the screen during unrelated sketches, saying: "I am neither in this sketch nor not in it, but somewhere in-between". This running gag was used when Ashdown's extramarital affair was revealed, and his puppet commented that "I didn't touch her on the left leg, or the right leg, but somewhere in-between."

Cyril Smith

Former liberal MP Cyril Smith also made a few appearances depicted as a morbidly obese giant.

Bernard Ingham

Sir Bernard Ingham (born 21 June 1932) is a British journalist and former civil servant, best known as Margaret Thatcher's long-serving chief press secretary while she was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.

The chief press secretary is seen in the fourth episode of the sixth series as a ring announcer for a boxing match between Margaret Thatcher and a group of European leaders sitting round a table agreeing on “improving the wellbeing of their countries”.

Non-Thatcherian British Politicians

Winston Churchill

Harold Macmillan

Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton (10 February 1894 – 29 December 1986) was a British Conservative Party statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. Dubbed "Supermac", he was known for his pragmatism, wit and unflappability.

In the first series, Former Prime Ministers Harold Wilson, James Callaghan, Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home were depicted as living in a highly restrictive retirement home named Exchequers, where they were frequently abused by Queen Victoria.

First seen playing a small part in one of the first ever sketches (Harold Wilson is moved to an Old Prime Ministers Home, much to his chagrin), the usually mute MacMillon generally appeared wherever a generic elderly MP was needed to fill in background space. He’s ninety, you know. (Well, not any more he isn’t, he’s dead.)

Alec Douglas-Home

Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel (2 July 1903 – 9 October 1995), was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.

In the first series, Former Prime Ministers Harold Wilson, James Callaghan, Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home were depicted as living in a highly restrictive retirement home named Exchequers, where they were frequently abused by Queen Victoria. Wilson constantly attempted escape, whilst Callaghan took delight in tormenting him.

Harold Wilson

James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995), was a British Labour politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976.

In the first series, Former Prime Ministers Harold Wilson, James Callaghan, Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home were depicted as living in a highly restrictive retirement home named Exchequers, where they were frequently abused by Queen Victoria. Wilson constantly attempted escape, whilst Callaghan took delight in tormenting him.

Edward Heath

Edward Heath was also said to have resided there, but he was not seen on screen, later he would appear as a naked piano player.

James Callaghan

Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005), often known as Jim Callaghan, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980.

In the first series, Former Prime Ministers Harold Wilson, James Callaghan, Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home were depicted as living in a highly restrictive retirement home named Exchequers, where they were frequently abused by Queen Victoria. Wilson constantly attempted escape, whilst Callaghan took delight in tormenting him.

Enoch Powell

John Enoch Powell (16 June 1912 – 8 February 1998) was a British politician, classical scholar, author, linguist, soldier, philologist and poet. He served as a Conservative Member of Parliament (1950–1974), then Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MP (1974–1987), and was Minister of Health (1960–1963).

Betty Boothroyd

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd (born 8 October 1929) served as a Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000. She is the only woman to have served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000.

Boothroyd appeared in the fourth episode of the twelfth series in her dressing room after being elected as the first female Speaker of the House of Commons.

Patrick Mayhew

Patrick Barnabas Burke Mayhew, Baron Mayhew of Twysden (11 September 1929 – 25 June 2016) was Under Secretary of Employment from 1979 to 1981, then Minister of State at the Home Office from 1981 to 1983. After this, he served as Solicitor General for England and Wales from 1983 to 1987, and then Attorney General for England and Wales and simultaneously Attorney General for Northern Ireland from 1987 to 1992.

The British barrister appeared in a few episodes including the second episode of the eighteenth series when Mayhew is part of the new international commission with Reverend Ian Paisley.

Non-British Politicians

Ronald Reagan

Reagan, referred to in the show by his real-life nickname "Ronnie", was portrayed as a bumbling, nuke-obsessed old fool who would declare war on any country he saw as a threat and would always need his trusty (if not often manipulative) aides to explain even the simplest commands.

Next to his bed are red buttons labelled 'Nuke' and 'Nurse'. His occasional bursts of brilliance are hampered as his stupidity gets the better of him - he surprises his friends with news he has built a top-secret bomb-testing facility the Russians will never discover; the facility is located, of course, in his anus.

Without his aides, Ronnie was virtually useless; he even requires supervision to eat lest he eat from the fishbowl or jab himself in the face with a fork. Ronnie's aides often take advantage of his simple-mindedness and manipulate him into doing their bidding. Don Regan gets Ronnie to give him more taxpayer dollars to invade Russia by confusing Ronnie about the Domino Effect: He thinks Russia is trying to steal his toy dominoes. However, Ronnie's behaviour is more than enough punishment - he frequently comes close to causing nuclear war, for example in one episode Caspar Weinberger finds Ronnie making dirty noises down the phone linked directly to the Kremlin. Ronnie frequently confuses his aides' names and at some point merely resorts to calling all of them Larry.

Ronnie does show some independence however whenever he is seen alongside Margaret Thatcher. He frequently manipulates *her* into doing his bidding; in many episodes it is hinted the two have some kind of love interest. One of the more famous sketches highlighting this includes Ronnie and Maggie making out in airport, leading Ronnie to state "What a fine woman. Pity I'm only screwing her country."

Nancy Reagan

was the butt of cosmetic surgery jokes.

depicted as the homely, jolly caretaker of "Ronnie", always correcting him whenever he did something stupid.

Edwin Meese

Caspar Weinberger

Caspar Willard "Cap" Weinberger (August 18, 1917 – March 28, 2006) was an American politician and businessman. As a prominent Republican, he served in a variety of state and federal positions for three decades, including Chairman of the California Republican Party, 1962–68. Most notably he was Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1987.

Portrayed with suspiciously shark-like features, he was one of Ronnie's more long-suffering aides, and was mostly in charge of making sure Ronnie never started any unsolicited wars whilst his back was turned.

As his job title suggests, "Cap" was in charge of the military and America's defence - no easy task under the rubbery warmonger Ronnie Reagan. Many sketches featured Caspar trying to talk Ronnie out of causing unintentional wars due to his sheer stupidity - Ronnie frequently comes close to causing war by making prank calls to Russia and and threatening to bomb Libya under the impression bombing the enemy worked in Vietnam and World War II. During any war America was already involved in, it would be Caspar's job to discuss plans of action with Ronnie - all of Ronnie's suggestions being just plain nonsensical. Names for the enemy in Libya for use in press material suggested by Ronnie included "Charlie" (used previously in Vietnam and Korea), "Jesus" and "Larry".

When seen communicating in England, however, Caspar is shown to be rather closed-minded and manipulative. Talking to George Younger about the two nations' "Special Relationship", he gets Younger to support Trident and the STI initiative without giving anything back to England whatsoever, claiming "that's what makes the relationship special".

Throughout his short appearance in the show, Caspar is voiced by John Sessions.

In the Audience with Ronald Reagan sketch an audience member asks him "How's your asshole?". Reagan then answers and replies by saying "Caspar Weinberger's doing just fine!".

Dan Quayle

James Danforth Quayle (born February 4, 1947) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 44th vice president of the United States from 1989 to 1993.

In one sketch President Bush tells Quayle "Listen, Dan, you were right to compare yourself to John F. Kennedy". Quayle then replies: "Because of my experience?" Bush: "No, because we're going to have you asssasinated." Quayle: "Thank you, sir, that's an honor."

In another sketch, which was a partial saga throughout the entire seventh series, the American government tries to get rid of him by shooting him into space.

George Bush Sr.

depicted as a grumpy, humorless man who spoke with a nasal voice and whose sentences were often filled with neologisms and language mistakes.

Ted Kennedy

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts from 1962 until his death in 2009.

How would you feel if you were the only one in your family not to screw Marilyn Monroe?

Henry Kissinger

featured in a sketch where he, Nixon and Reagan play cards. Reagan claims he doesn't understand why he hasn't received a Nobel Peace Prize yet to which Kissinger replies: "I got it for bombing Cambodia."

Leonid Brezhnev

often said "da" ("yes") and talked about potatoes

Brezhnev had already died two years earlier when Spitting Image premiered in 1984, so he was never featured as Soviet Leader on the show. However several puppets that assisted Konstantin Chernenko, Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin were clearly caricatures of Brezhnev. Usually three of these Brezhnev clones assisted the then current Soviet leader.

Yuri Andropov

Konstantin Chernenko

Depicted as he appeared in the media at the time: sick and already with one foot in the grave. In one memorable sketch other Soviet Party members go the refrigerator in the Kremlin to fetch a cold drink. Inside, Chernenko is kept between all the other deep freeze products. After only a year the real Chernenko died. Spitting Image poked fun at this by making a change in the opening titles of their show. Instead of showing archive footage of Chernenko in the Russian parliament, they showed a hand holding a newspaper clipping about Chernenko's death, covering the footage.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Gorbachev was depicted as a Soviet Leader in the old style, despite his reforms. The famous red birthmark on his head was redesigned by the puppeteers as the hammer and sickle of the Flag of the Soviet Union. In many sketches he was portrayed as being more rock 'n roll than the previous stuffy Soviet Leaders, but unfortunately still grooving on early rock 'n roll records from the 1950s and 1960s. In comparison with Ronald Reagan he wasn't criticized that heavily, although there was a sketch where he claimed he invented words like "perestroika" and "glasnost" simply to hide the fact that nothing actually changed. In another sketch he claimed he wanted to be open about everything that would once be censored in the Soviet press. As a result he revealed embarrassing information about himself and other world politicians, before being beaten up.

He also appeared in a Roger Moore Puppet sketch called "For your Eyebrows only" in a very similar style to Ernst Blofeld complete with a white Persian Cat and a Blofeld style speech "Welcome Mr Bond" in a Russian accent.

Raisa Gorbachova

Boris Yeltsin

portrayed as a complete drunk, in reference to his many media appearances where he seemed to be everything but sober.

All other Russians looked like Leonid Brezhnev. In Russia it was snowing even indoors and the Soviet television had extremely low-tech visual effects.

Yitzhak Shamir

often appeared wearing a hard hat with the Star of David on it, holding a brick and referring to building on a 'legitimate Israeli Settlement' (referring to the practice of building houses on the West Bank for Israeli people).

François Mitterrand

was wearing a beret and a garlic wreath.

P. W. Botha

makes a number of recurring appearances throughout Spitting Image including in the songs I Never Met A Nice South African (with appearances before and after the mainsong) and My God Is Bigger Than Your God as well as occasionally wearing a badge with "Anti-Anti Apartheid"

He is portrayed announcing that "1. Bananas are Marsupials 2.Cars run on gravy 3. Salmon live in trees and eat pencils 4. Reform in South Africa is on the way!" Later in the same sketch, he announces that he uses a black South African as a doormat, and is subsequently killed by black South African protestors.

Adolf Hitler

Thatcher’s enraptured neighbour Herr Jeremy Von Wilcox (who is actually an elderly Adolf Hitler, living at 9 Downing Street), from whom she seeks advice about the unions and the unemployed. Mr. Wilcox/Hitler compares the Trade unions with the Soviet Union and advises not to attack in winter. Regarding unemployment, he says that people out of work should be put in the army, and tells Thatcher that he thinks the SS (meaning SAS) are a "great bunch of guys"

Retired dictator, now going under the name of “Jeremy”. First seen living at No. 9 Downing Street, where he would often give neighbourly policy advice to his next door neighbour, Mrs Thatcher.

Mrs Thatcher: “Have you ever been inside number 10?”

“Jeremy”: “Once, in 1940 I came *that* close. But with you there, I almost feel like I run the place…”

Later to be spotted as a background character many times, including popping up in the United Nations representing Argentina, presenting Top Of The Pops, or as a Tory back-bencher.

Idi Amin

His puppet was sometimes seen during the first season of "Spitting Image", but always in small roles, probably due to the fact that his role in international politics was already over since the end of the 1970s.

Robert Mugabe

Ferdinand Marcos

Imelda Marcos

Ruhollah Khomeini

portrayed as a humorless, angry, insane zealot who was often seen with blood dripping from his hands. He spoke English with a mock Arabic accent. He was the presenter of a sketch entitled 'Miss Islamic World' where all the constestants wore identical black robes and face veils so that no features were visible. They were introduced as 'Miss Iran', 'Miss Saudi Arabia' and so on. Such a sketch would not now be allowed on UK television due to obvious reasons.

Saddam Hussein

Hussein made his Spitting Image debut in the first episode of Series 11, used from one of the stock puppets. The proper puppet, designed by Pablo Bach, was made in November 1990 in Series 12 of the show. He was portrayed as being completely evil, first trying to be like Richard Briers.

Muammar Gaddafi

Gaddafi was featured often in "Spitting Image" during the 1980s, usually with a preposterously large military hat on his head.

In the first season he is seen as the host of an award show where the "International Terrorist of the Year" is elected, including Richard Attenborough's film "Gandhi" (1982). When Gaddafi unseals the envelope it explodes. The dictator is still able to mutter the winner ("Sir Richard...") before fainting on the floor.

Another sketch shows him pondering how to hurt the British people. His assistant suggests murdering Margaret Thatcher, whereupon Gaddafi snaps back: "You idiot! I said: "Something to HURT the British people!"

Indira Gandhi

Richard Nixon

His puppet was created for the first season of "Spitting Image". One sketch features him playing cards with Ronald Reagan and Henry Kissinger.

He also appears in the Land Of Confusion music video.

Bill Clinton

Hillary Clinton

Gerhard Stoltenberg

Gerhard Stoltenberg (September 29, 1928 – November 23, 2001) was a German politician (CDU) and minister in the cabinets of Ludwig Erhard, Kurt Georg Kiesinger and Helmut Kohl.

The German politician is seen in the first episode of the fourteenth series with several politicians from around the world at the New York headquarters of the United Nations.

Hans-Jochen Vogel

Hans-Jochen Vogel (born 3 February 1926 in Göttingen) was a German politician, heading the Social Democratic Party.

The German politician is seen in a sketch based at the Berlin Wall in the second episode of the sixth series when Mikhail Gorbachev is asked if he is ready to knock down the wall.

Franz Josef Strauss

Franz Josef Strauss (6 September 1915 – 3 October 1988) was a German politician. He was the long-time chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) from 1961 until 1988.

Juan Carlos I of Spain

Juan Carlos I (Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, born 5 January 1938) is a member of the Spanish royal family who reigned as King of Spain, from 1975 until his abdication in 2014.

Saw many an Englishman conduct himself with dignity in Spain and does not hesitate to follow this example with a toilet seat on his neck (s03e10).

The Sportsmen

Bobby Robson

was a senile worrier nicknamed 'Rubbisho'.

Emlyn Hughes

portrayed with a high pitched and annoying voice

Paul Gascoigne

appeared, frequently crying – a parody of the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany in which he famously cried after being booked, which would have ruled him out of the final had England won the game.

Ian Botham

a violent drug addict

Mike Gatting

spoke with a high voice

Lester Piggott

had to be subtitled.

Frank Bruno

with his trademark laugh and catchphrase "Where's 'Arry?"

Chris Eubank

with his lisp.

Steve Davis

Steve Davis (born 22 August 1957) was an English professional snooker player from Plumstead, London.

boring, upset because he had no nickname, but thought himself interesting.

The snooker player featured in multiple series, including a sketch in the first episode of the ninth series when he is in bed with his wife discussing their next holiday.

John McEnroe

John Patrick McEnroe Jr. (born February 16, 1959) is an American retired tennis player, often considered among the greatest in the history of the sport. He was known for his shot-making artistry and volleying skills, as well as his confrontational on-court behavior that frequently landed him in trouble with umpires and tennis authorities.

Ray Illingworth

Raymond Illingworth (born 8 June 1932) is a former English cricketer, cricket commentator and cricket administrator.

The former English cricketer appeared in a couple of episodes within the eighteenth series, notably seen complaining about the length of one day matches.

Bryan Robson

Bryan Robson (born 11 January 1957) is an English football manager and former player.

The ex-England football player featured in multiple episodes, notably featuring in the sixth episode of the third series where the injury prone player took his head off during an interview with Jimmy Hill.

Emlyn Hughes

Emlyn Walter Hughes (28 August 1947 – 9 November 2004) was an English footballer.

The retired football player was seen in the fifth episode of the eighth series when he interviewed Sir Bobby Robson after he resigned as the manager of England.

Bobby Robson

Sir Robert William Robson (18 February 1933 – 31 July 2009) was an English footballer and football manager. His career included periods playing for and later managing the England national team and being a UEFA Cup-winning manager at Ipswich Town F.C.

The Media

Robin Day

Alastair Burnet

portrayed on Spitting Image as a cringing sycophant fawning towards any member of the Royal Family. In one song, "Blues at Ten," he sings about his love for The Queen Mum.

He also had a semi-bulbous nose that constantly inflated and deflated.

Sandy Gall

Henderson Alexander Gall (born 1 October 1927), known as Sandy Gall, is a Scottish journalist, author, and former ITN news presenter.

was effeminate, always worrying what coat he would wear.

The news presenter appeared in many episodes, notably in the eighth episode of the third series when he practiced presenting the news in front of a mirror whilst he tried on a jacket in a tailor’s shop. He ended up dressed in a mallard costume presenting in Belfast.

John Cole

incomprehensible and had to be dragged off-screen when he talked too long.

often seen corresponding in a background of the Houses of Parliament. Other journalists usually became bored or even fell asleep while he was talking. As a running gag his live reports always ended because someone appeared in the background hitting him with a stick.

Nicholas Witchell

always turning up during a strike to work rather than report.

Kate Adie

was a thrill-seeker, BBC Head of Bravery.

Jeremy Paxman

appeared as uninterested and self-loving.

Trevor McDonald

frequently lamented his lot after being paired with Ronnie Corbett as newscasters, with the latter always getting the punchlines.

William Rees-Mogg

portrayed as a censorship-crazy person with eyes that would frequently pop out of the socket.

David Coleman

had a very loud ear prompter and sometimes did not know what he was commentating on.

Caricatured as an overenthusiastic and senile man who was often unaware of what was happening around him and misinterpreted the video footage that was shown to him.

He also appears in the sketch A Question of Spit.

Frank Bough

was portrayed as being a drug user.

Bruce Forsyth

spoke every sentence as though it was a catchphrase.

Keith Floyd

Celebrity chef who was always getting drunk on wine.

Barry Norman

Norman was usually used whenever Hollywood actors and directors were spoofed. The puppet 's catch phrase "And why not?" was later used by the real Norman as the title of his autobiography. However, the real Norman wasn't very pleased with his puppet version since the doll had a large inexplicable fictious wart on its forehead.

Paul Daniels

A lot of jokes about Daniels where about his bald head and toupées. One sketch, a parody of "One Man and his Dog" featured Daniels and his toupée as "One Man and his Wig."

The real Daniels first liked his puppet version and didn't mind the baldness jokes, but he objected to a sketch where he ogled the breasts of his assistant Debbie McGee. After that moment he never watched the show again.

In the song I Cocked It Up Again!, Satan claims that he created Daniels, which God is relieved to hear, believing the stage magician to be one of his own failures.

Billy Connolly

Comedian who was portrayed as a jester

Jimmy Tarbuck

said to use old jokes and always take part in Royal Variety Performance.

often seen with Bruce Forsyth on the show, continuously repeating his catch phrase "Ho-Ho" or "Boom-Boom". Usually nobody considered him to be funny. In one sketch he and Forsyth are seen as weeping people at a hospital where a doctor informs them that their very old jokes "have died".

Bernard Manning

Bernard John Manning (13 August 1930 – 18 June 2007) was an English comedian and nightclub owner.

Manning became famous on British television during the 1970s, appearing on shows including The Comedians and The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. Notorious for his offensive jokes aimed at minorities, he was rarely seen on television in the later part of his career, but he continued to perform in theatres and pubs until his death.

Depicted as a very fat man, usually sweating and with a cigarette or glass of beer in his hand. He never cared about anyone and loved to make racist jokes. In one sketch he is shown with writer's block and unable to think of someone to insult since he already made fun of "blacks, micks, kikes, yanks,...". Hulk Hogan then suggests Manning to poke fun at himself. Manning is delighted by the idea and claims that he now has ideas for "years to come". The next shot shows him telling jokes in a bar, accompanied by a laugh track which he turns off at the end of the sketch.

Ben Elton

always shown with a microphone.

Jeffrey Archer

Writer and MP who appeared as an annoying, self-commenting writer whose books were not read by anyone.

frequently lampooned on the show as a vile, self-important, arrogant man who always tried to impress his environment with his upper class roots. He often spoke in literary terms, starting a sentence and then adding "said the succesful author/politician/...".

Kenneth Williams

was depicted with a large nose and big teeth.

Harry Secombe

depicted as overly religious.

Alan Bennett

shown at home as watching Spitting Image on TV.

Robert Maxwell

Rupert Murdoch

Keith Rupert Murdoch (born 11 March 1931) is an Australian-born American media mogul.

Murdoch was frequently attacked on "Spitting Image", often in association with the subjective and trashy nature of his newspapers. He seemed to believe every lie his newpapers spread, no matter how outrageously unbelievable it was. When he talked he often ended his sentences with a belch or a fart.

His journalists were often caricatured as pigs or vultures.

David Attenborough

Anthony McPartlin

Jeremy Beadle

featured in a sketch were all the people in the world are united in their hartred towards Jeremy Beadle and sang the song We All Hate Jeremy Beadle. Various celebrities torture him and tie him to a rocket.

Melvyn Bragg

Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg (born 6 October 1939) is an English broadcaster, author and parliamentarian. He is best known for his work with ITV as editor and presenter of The South Bank Show (1978–2010).

often used to interview famous musicians, artists, authors and other cultural figures. Among the puppets he interviewed are Luciano Pavarotti, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ronnie Hazelhurst.

A running gag on the show was that Bragg would often be seen snorting milk from a baby bottle, usually before and after he gave an interview. The reason for this strange behaviour was never explained.

Salman Rushdie

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie (born 19 June 1947) is a British Indian novelist and essayist.

The British author appeared in many episodes, notably featuring in the third episode of the eighth series singing part of the song We All Hate Jeremy Beadle where he and Khomeini are united in their hatred of tv presenter Jeremy Beadle.

John Craven

John Raymond Craven (born 16 August 1940) is an English journalist and television presenter, best known for presenting the BBC programmes Newsround, Countryfile and Beat the Brain.

Muriel Gray

Muriel Janet Gray (born 30 August 1958) is a Scottish author, broadcaster and journalist.

The Scottish journalist featured in the sixth episode of the fifth series presenting a sketch titled ‘The Future of Television.

Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Daubeney Brandreth (born 8 March 1948) is an English writer, broadcaster, actor, and former Conservative Member of Parliament.

Brandreth is seen in the third episode of the eighteenth series in a phone box discussing a trip to the cinema.

Michael Barrymore

Michael Ciaran Parker (born 4 May 1952), better known by his stage name Michael Barrymore, is an English comedian and television presenter of the game shows Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music and Kids Say the Funniest Things.

Barrymore featured in multiple sketches, including the third episode of the eighth series as part of a British Revolution sketch. He was the host of a 24 hour round-the-clock quiz show and repeatedly said his catchphrase “alwight”.

Ronnie Hazlehurst

Ronald Hazlehurst (13 March 1928 – 1 October 2007) was an English composer and conductor who composed the theme tunes for many well known British sitcoms and gameshows of the 1970s and the 1980s, including Yes Minister, Are You Being Served?, I Didn't Know You Cared and Last of the Summer Wine.

Richard Baker

Richard Douglas James Baker (15 June 1925 – 17 November 2018) was an English broadcaster, best known as a newsreader for BBC News from 1954 to 1982, and as a radio presenter of classical music.

Alan Freeman

Alan Leslie Freeman (6 July 1927 – 27 November 2006), sometimes nicknamed "Fluff", was an Australian-born British disc jockey and radio personality in the United Kingdom for 40 years, best known for presenting Pick of the Pops from 1961 to 2000.

Ian McCaskill

Ian McCaskill (28 July 1938 – 10 December 2016) was a BBC weatherman.

Robert Kilroy-Silk

Robert Michael Kilroy-Silk (born Robert Michael Silk; 19 May 1942) is an English politician and broadcaster.

The presenter of featured in multiple episodes, notably when he presented Kilroy during the ninth episode of the fifth series discussing the “Future of Television”.

Clive Anderson

Clive Stuart Anderson (born 10 December 1952) is an English television and radio presenter, comedy writer and former barrister.

Anderson appeared in multiple episodes, notably in the fourth episode of the fifteenth series where he frantically presented a show and was unable to sit still.

Peter Snow

Peter John Snow (born 20 April 1938) is a British radio and television presenter and historian, best known as an analyst of election results.

The TV and radio presenter featured in multiple series’ as he frantically presented the latest news on elections and political stats.

The Musicians

Mick Jagger

A character who seemed perpetually high

Mick Jagger is potrayed in the show as always-on-drugs "old fart rocker" with enormous lips. He appeared mostly on song sketches, such as We're Scared of Bob and Keepin' On Rockin'.

Keith Richards

so old and haggard that he thought he was dead

Ringo Starr

caricatured on the show with a large nose and enormous lips.

One sketch featured him taunting Yoko Ono before being kicked unconscious by her. Another sketch poked fun at his drinking problems whilst narrating a warped version of "Thomas the Tank Engine" (which Starr narrated for the first two series) which a drunken Starr mutters to himself before collapsing on a table full of wine bottles.

Paul McCartney

always releasing albums and films that flopped

portrayed as a small puppet who only sang bland and sugary sweet songs, desperately trying to score another hit in the charts. His wife, Linda McCartney, was also a puppet on the show.

Linda McCartney

Sting

presented as something of a self-important hippie. His puppet always tried to preserve the environment and frequently attacked the world leaders and their policies. His self-importantness was sent up in a few sketches: In one, he attempts to become the first man to land on Jupiter under the impression being a pop star entitles him to do anything no matter how improbable. In the song "Lessons", he is shown as a teacher - as he was one in real life before becoming a singer - lecturing the world leaders on world peace (even though he slowly drifts into completely irrelevant and random topics).

Sting is one of a handful of celebrities to have been directly involved with Spitting Image before the show began parodying him. He was asked towards the end of the first series to sing a specially rewritten version of the Police song "Every Breath You Take" entitled "Every Bomb You Make". Sting agreed to sing it in exchange for copies of every episode of the first series. He is also a celebrity who eventually turned around and helped the show after being parodied - he provides the narration for a Spitting Image production of Peter & The Wolf.

Freddie Mercury

featured a lot on Spitting Image, but always as an extra and never under the name "Freddie Mercury". As a small joke he can be seen in the audience during the Queen parody: "We're the Royal Family", which features Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family spoofing "We're the Champions" by Queen.

Bob Dylan

Madonna

In some sketches she was shown having a singing belly button. In almost every appearance she changed her hairstyle and clothing. One memorable sketch shows her desperately trying to be noticed by a crowd of people, but nobody recognizes her. Eventually she shows her breasts, whereupon everybody recognizes her again.

Her failed marriage with Sean Penn was spoofed as well during the 1980s.

Michael Jackson

featured often in "Spitting Image". He appears in the very first episode, singing a parody of "Thriller" called "I'm Perfect."

In later episodes his black puppet was painted white in reference to his ever changing facelifts.

Another music parody was "Mad", a parody of "Bad".

Boy George

Boy George (born George Alan O'Dowd; 14 June 1961) is the lead singer of the pop band Culture Club. George is known for his soulful voice and androgynous appearance. He was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the late 1970s to the early 1980s.

Boy George was seen in the background of multiple sketches, notably during the third series. A different Boy George puppet was used for the song “War Is Naughty” in the first episode of the second series.

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948) is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre.

Kylie Minogue

depicted as a vain robot

Luciano Pavarotti

depicted as a morbidly obese man who spoke with a mock Italian accent. He was often seen eating everything in sight.

One sketch shows him singing a song about all the food he likes to eat, done in a style that parodies a typical opera duet. The entire song was sung in Italian with English subtitles.

In another episode Pavarotti is a guest in "The South Bank Show" with Melvin Bragg, where he talks about a typical day in his life. Clips show Pavarotti doing "throat exercises" and having several meals after other. Finally he eats his micophone and belches loudly into the camera.

Matt and Luke Goss

Of the band Bros. Depicted as children wanting to grow up

Esther Rantzen

always had a permanent grin

Cilla Black

had large teeth and a thick Scouse accent.

Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard (1940) is a British pop singer. He was the first British rock 'n roll idol, when he made his debut in the 1950s. Despite his long career he is seen as part of the establishment, singing clean and safe pop songs, often about his Christian faith.

He was usually depicted as a naive man who tried to spread his believe in Christianity. Quite a lot of jokes were about his supposedly ancient age and the contrast between his image as a young pop star. Richard was often seen together on the show with Archbishop Robert Runcie and Mary Whitehouse. One notorious Spitting Image sketch featured his aging sperm cells, still waiting for their first ejaculation.

Bernard Butler

Bernard Butler is the guitarist for the Brit-Pop Band "Suede".

The puppet is also used, hair, guitar and all, as the guitarist Slash from Guns'N'Roses.

Bob Geldof

Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof (born 5 October 1951) is an Irish singer-songwriter, author, political activist and occasional actor. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s, alongside the punk rock movement.

Geldof's charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas" was spoofed as the song: We're scared of Geldof in which various people perform a charity single because they were afraid to say no, even people who the singer called by mistake. This was a reference to the fact that Geldof was very intimidating and emotional in his request to people to donate money.

In another sketch he was featured claiming he didn't mind the criticism that he didn't deserve a knighthood for the reason that he hadn't done anything for England, since Margaret Thatcher didn't do anything good for her country either.

The real Geldof was amused by his puppet and appeared in a 2007 documentary on ITV about "Spitting Image" to pay his tribute to the show.

Brett Anderson

Brett Lewis Anderson (born 29 September 1967) is an English singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the band Suede.

The puppet was first used for the Suede satire song "Are you Getting Old or Are We Shite" (1993)

The Brett Anderson puppet was recycled several times during 1993, e.g., for the Kurt Cobain puppet in "The Good Bit" (1993).

Bruce Sprinsteen

was featured in small cameo roles, such as the song "We're scared of Bob".

Mick Hucknall

Mick Hucknall is the lead singer of the British band "Simply Red".

During the height of the band's fame in the early 90s, they were frequently parodied - not just by Spitting Image - due to Hucknall's appearance. He was often satirised for having a high voice and long, ginger hair.

Hucknall himself was parodied in the 1993 song "We Wish We Were Black", which makes references to both his ginger, pasty appearance and his style of music.

Max Bygraves

Walter William Bygraves (16 October 1922 – 31 August 2012), best known by the stage name Max Bygraves, was an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer.

Trying to wake a senile person from a coma with his new LP, he achieves exactly opposite effect. The LP’s name, Singalongacoma, is a pun on his numerous LPs with similar names.

Diana Ross

Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, actress, and record producer.

Tony Banks

Anthony George Banks (born 27 March 1950) is an English musician, songwriter and film composer primarily known as the keyboardist and founding member of the rock band Genesis.

Phil Collins originally saw a caricatured version of himself on Spitting Image and commissioned the show’s creators to fabricate puppets of the entire band for the music video for the song “Land of Confusion”.

Perry Como

Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American singer, actor and television personality.

The American singer featured in a musical number in the 1987 Christmas special episode. Como sung about needing money due to being at the end of his career.

Neil Tennant

Neil Francis Tennant (born 10 July 1954) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, music journalist and co-founder of the synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Chris Lowe in 1981.

Tennant features at the end of the first episode of the fifteenth series when the Pet Shop Boys perform the song “(How the Hell) Do We Get Away With It”.

The Actors

John Cleese

Earlier episodes of the show often drew comparison between him and David Owen, who were both tall men who spoke with a stiff, upper lip and high voice. One sketch has Owen imitating Cleese in the famous Dead Parrot sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus, only talking about his "dead party".

Later a Cleese puppet with a large chin did appear in "Spitting Image", where Cleese talks with Owen about the Social Democratic Party. The sketch also poked fun at The Ministry of Silly Walks and the Argument Sketch from Monty Python.

Dustin Hoffman

spoke nasally and was parodied for his method acting

John Gielgud

The sleepy one!

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century.

lamenting their friends, even their own death

Roger Moore

One sketch in Spitting Image featured him "acting" by simply moving one or two of his eyebrows.

Another sketch sees him as James Bond 007, in a comedy version of "For your Eyes Only" called "For your Eyebrows Only" where he confronts Gorbachev as Blofeld and features Margaret Thatcher as M.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

muscle-bound but insecure about the size of his genitals

Donald Sinden

was parodied as also trying to become the greatest Shakespearian actor and get a knighthood

The English actor was in multiple episodes, including in the eleventh episode of the second series when he is part of a disaster movie titled “Donald Sinden the man with no title”.

Clint Eastwood

frequently portrayed as a badass tough guy

Eastwood was often used to spoof his reputation as rough, cool character. In The Man With No Title he saves the day by killing the "evil" Margaret Thatcher. In the song We All Hate Jeremy Beadle he throws a can of gasoline over Beadle's body and then lights a match. Beadle ducks away, but it turns out that Eastwood simply wanted to light a cigar.

Sylvester Stallone

nearly always appeared dressed up as John Rambo.

Woody Allen

He was featured as a man whose films and private life were virtually indistinguishable. In one scene he would be seen writing a script for his new movie, but then the camera would show that that scene was already part of his new movie.

Jack Nicholson

Depicted smoking cigars while wearing sunglasses. He was caricatured as a cool, self aware person.

Marlon Brando

often featured in small cameos. One sketch featured him in a parody of his famous "I could have been a contender"-scene from "On the Waterfront", where Rod Steiger complains that Brando always managed to be so much better and more famous actor than him. Brando then explains to him: "Rod...rod... rod...rod...rod....rod... rod... you...you.... you.... you....never.... you never.... you never....you never....you never.... you never knew.... you never knew.... you never knew....you never knew.... you never knew to make one line.... last..... forever."

Mel Brooks

caricatured as a mad joker. In one sketch he tries to convince Jack Nicholson to play the part of Gene Wilder in his next film, because Wilder cannot act, only pause brilliantly.

Steven Spielberg

featured in an Academy Award special of Spitting Image in 1986 where his enormous wealth was spoofed. Assistents are unable to get hundreds of bags of money inside his house.

Joan Collins

Joan Henrietta Collins (born 23 May 1933) is an English actress, author, and columnist.

Orson Welles

Robbie Coltrane

The Scottish actor featured in several episodes, including in a sketch titled “Coltrane in a Cadillac” in the first episode of the fourteenth series.

Tom Hanks

Bob Monkhouse

Robert Alan Monkhouse (1 June 1928 – 29 December 2003) was an English comedy writer, comedian and actor probably best known for being host of the TV game shows The Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares and Family Fortunes.

Monkhouse featured in several episodes, including the third episode of the eighth series when he presented “Pratathon 90’” and asked members of the public how they raised money.

Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett (born 9 May 1934) is an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and author.

The English playwright appeared in multiple episodes, notably seen watching TV and eating biscuits with Thora Hird throughout the eighth series.

Thora Hird

Dame Thora Hird, DBE (28 May 1911 – 15 March 2003) was an English actress and comedienne of stage and screen, presenter and writer.

Ken Russell

Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was a British film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style.

Tatum O’Neil

Tatum Beatrice O'Neal (born November 5, 1963) is an American actress and author.

The American actress appeared with blonde hair in the fifteenth episode of the third series in a scene titled “Dinner with the Penns and McEnroes” where they all argued and brawled one another.

Geoffrey Palmer

Geoffrey Dyson Palmer (born 4 June 1927) is an English actor known for his roles in British television sitcoms The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–79), Butterflies (1978–83) and As Time Goes By (1992–2005).

Palmer featured in multiple series, notably in the fourth episode of the eighteenth series when he presents a retired man called Cedric a cheque on behalf of British Gas.

The Clerics

Archbishop Robert Runcie

Runcie was depicted as a stiff, pompous, hypocritical little man. He was very preachy towards other people, but in one sketch his Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs Terry Waite only made trips to the Middle East to bring Runcie some free gifts.

Runcie was usually in the presence of other well known Christians like Cliff Richard and Mary Whitehouse. They were often trying to censor blasphemous or otherwise shocking affairs.

Ian Paisley

Depicted dressed in a black cassock and a studded white dog-collar . His head was caricatured into a furious red face and a shouting mouth. In one sketch he tries to convince God to kill Gerry Adams. Another skit was a parody of the music video of "Dancing in the Street" with David Bowie and Mick Jagger, in which Paisley claims it's time for "shouting in the street".

Paisley also appears in the song Our God Is Bigger Than Your God, where he is seen at odds with an IRA Fighter, and half shouts, half sings the words "Our God is bigger than your God! And I think our God is usually right!" at his opposite.

Archbishop David Jenkins

depicted as not believing in anything

Pope John Paul II

Originally the Pope was portrayed as a grumpy, old conservative man speaking in Pig Latin. In later episodes he was depicted as some kind of rock star, a banjo-playing womanizer with a Texan accent. The church leader wore sunglasses, sometimes played guitar or wore jeans. He spoke with an American accent and used phrases like "Yo..." and "Hey man". Sometimes he even claimed to be an atheist. He also appears towards the end of the Genesis "Land of Confusion" Music video playing a guitar.

In a few sketches he expressed his frustration being the pope. His lips were dirty from kissing the tarmac every time he left the plane during an official visit. Also he was jealous of Desmond Tutu's popularity.

Non-Politicians

Mary Whitehouse

portrayed as Christian censor

Lord Lucan

appeared in various background roles often as a bartender.

First seen (as Lord Lucan) refusing to reveal his whereabouts while appearing on Question Time. Later seen in a variety of roles, but most enjoyably in silhouetted form as Harold Angryperson in the regular scandal round-up CRIMINAL LIBEL (first seen, S1EP3). That first Criminal Libel report centered on the (fictional) dodgy antics of Mark Thatcher. How times change, eh?

Extra bonus fact: episode seven sees Harold Angryperson voiced by Ade Edmondson in Vyvyan mode, as opposed to the more regular Chris Barrie.

Kenneth Newman

First seen parading around in front of 10 Downing Street in episode three, doing… absolutely nothing at all, really. Would later show up quite frequently, highlighting Britain’s heavy-handed policing of the 1980s. When he wasn’t finding a flimsy pretence for duffing up Leon Brittan, he would often to be found giving a good bollocking to P.C. Norris Dimbleby.

P.C. Norris Dimbleby

Usually seen playing the role of dimwitted bobby, Dimbleby was first spotted playing the new Police Spokesman For Racial Affairs, apologising for the behaviour of his predecessor. “May I assure you that for him, the future looks very nig-nog indeed”, cue him being dragged off and replaced by a succession of replacements, each in turn being dragged away after saying something racist. First seen as a regular peeler in episode 12, getting shot by Commissioner Newman in an unarmed combat training course.

Clive Sinclaire

Sir Clive Marles Sinclair (born 30 July 1940) is an English entrepreneur and inventor, most commonly known for his work in consumer electronics in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Claire Rayner

Claire Berenice Rayner (22 January 1931 – 11 October 2010) was an English nurse, journalist, broadcaster and novelist, best known for her role for many years as an agony aunt.

The agony aunt is seen throughout many series, notably in the first episode of the twelfth series where she gives some unusual answers from questions sent in by viewers.

John Harvey-Jones

Sir John Harvey-Jones (16 April 1924 – 9 January 2008) was an English businessman, best known by the public for his BBC television show, Troubleshooter, in which he advised struggling businesses.

The businessman appeared in the third episode of the fourteenth series where he presented “Troubleshooter” and decided the only one way to improve Sir John Harvey-Jones Incorporated was to get rid of the many Sir John Harvey-Jones’.

Non-Humans

Anthony Anteater

Yeah, those bloody anteaters, eh? Glad someone socked it to them on a satirical sketch show after what they did to the unions, eh? Eh? First seen refusing to appear on set in a David Attenborough-helmed nature documentary, resulting in Attenborough having to visit his dressing room to reason with him. “David! It’s typecasting! Why can’t I play something else, like a swan, or a lion?” Much later seen in the enjoyable late-period in-show serial “Some Of Our Puppets Are Missing”, alongside David Steel and someone whose name will come to us about three seconds after we click “publish” on this update.

“I said to him, David, I said. a line of ants? I’d rather a line of cocaine!”

The Grim Reaper

Popping up for the first time as one of the Flying Pickets, singing about how ugly they all are. Generally spotted afterwards in his more traditional guise as collector of souls, with the occasional appearance as Yorick.

Potato

Potato cropped up in a number of guises, usually of the Irish variety. For Ronald Reagan’s 1984 visit to Ireland, Potato played Reagan’s “closest Irish relative”. Later popped up as the Irish ambassador at the UN, and hosting Rubber News.

Non-Puppets

Central Continuity Announcer

The first live-action person ever seen on the show. Kept manufacturing phony transmission errors within the show, just so he could appear on screen, right up until the point his director gave him a bollocking over the phone.