It’s 30 years since the first episode of satirical puppet show Spitting Image and last night at the BFI some of its hidden stars, including Ian Hislop, Harry Enfield and Steve Nallon, were joined by its victims, including Roy Hattersley and David Steel, now both peers and looking a little more rubbery themselves.
A panel discussion kicked off with a montage of clips of the Hattersley puppet, with the running joke of his excessive spitting beginning the Q&A. “I remember speaking to a room of policemen, and the whole front row got their umbrellas out,” the Labour peer said, adding that he had watched the show “religiously every Sunday”.
Lord Steel, portrayed on the programme as diminutive due to what Enfield affectionately described as “the economics of plastic”, pointed out that no Tory members were in attendance. “Not for want of asking,” said Enfield.
