It was Margaret Thatcher belting out 'My Way', it was a colourless John Major singing about all the shades of grey, it was an orgy of latex, a cacophony of shrieks and flailing limbs. It was of course, Spitting Image.
Wednesday marks the 30th anniversary of the fantastically rude satirical puppet show, which first aired on 26 February, 1984 on ITV and ran until 18 February, 1996.
The British Film Institute will commemorate the date by hosting a 30th anniversary celebration and Q&A with writers and performers from the show - including Lord Roy Hattersley, Lord David Steel and Harry Enfield, on Thursday.
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But sadly, it looks as if those heady days of savage political satire will not be revisited any time soon.
Steve Nallon who impersonated Margaret Thatcher's voice for the show, blames the "blandness" of today's crop of leaders, pointing out: “The problem for Spitting Image would be how do you make somebody out of latex when he looks like he is made of latex already?"
Speaking to The Telegraph on the eve of the anniversary celebrations, he described Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband as "too alike" to inspire such humour in presentation as well as policy, unlike for example, Mrs Thatcher and Michael Foot, who led Labour in the early Eighties.
He added “Maybe that is the problem, that you can’t tell one from another. There isn’t the polarisation. All politicians look alike and they present alike.”
Very good point, sir. In the meantime, here are ten of our favourite Spitting Image sketches.
Wednesday marks the 30th anniversary of the fantastically rude satirical puppet show, which first aired on 26 February, 1984 on ITV and ran until 18 February, 1996.
The British Film Institute will commemorate the date by hosting a 30th anniversary celebration and Q&A with writers and performers from the show - including Lord Roy Hattersley, Lord David Steel and Harry Enfield, on Thursday.
But sadly, it looks as if those heady days of savage political satire will not be revisited any time soon.
Steve Nallon who impersonated Margaret Thatcher's voice for the show, blames the "blandness" of today's crop of leaders, pointing out: “The problem for Spitting Image would be how do you make somebody out of latex when he looks like he is made of latex already?"
SEE ALSO Newsnight: Thatcher Threatens To 'Privatise' Paxman After Spitting Image Discussion (VIDEO)
Speaking to The Telegraph on the eve of the anniversary celebrations, he described Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband as "too alike" to inspire such humour in presentation as well as policy, unlike for example, Mrs Thatcher and Michael Foot, who led Labour in the early Eighties.
He added “Maybe that is the problem, that you can’t tell one from another. There isn’t the polarisation. All politicians look alike and they present alike.”
Very good point, sir. In the meantime, here are ten of our favourite Spitting Image sketches.