Spitting Image To Return?
Remember this? Well, here's the news in a rather more verified and in-depth form. (I'd send you to Media Guardian, but a) There's a stupid registration system, and b) It's shit.)
ITV are apparently in "early stage talks" with John Lloyd about the show's return. The article also has the obligatory mention of The Chicken Song, which would probably annoy me if it wasn't for the Grant Naylor connection. (Good song, though; and it's amazing how many people miss the very, very, very obvious point of it.) Let's hope this gets commissioned; with John Lloyd at the h-hheeellm, it would be in safe hands. Although I'm still hoping Rob or Doug (or heavens forbid, both) appear as writers, because I'm a stupid twat with no sense of reality.
Lloyd says that "a seven-figure investment would be necessary to revive the show". For a bit of unnecessary history, the pilot for the original series (then called UNTV) cost £131,641 (obviously in 1986 terms). If you're wondering where I got that from, try and get hold of a copy of Tooth & Claw: The inside story of Spitting Image. One of the best factual books about a comedy series ever written.
Of course, good old Lloydy is right when he says that "The way things are happening at the moment is much more interesting and dangerous... You've got Michael Howard running the Tories. And Geoff Hoon - oh, what a joy." I've said for ages that the show has had enough of a rest; this could be fucking great.
Ta to flamingkitties who posted this to NOTBBC.
Comments
well good news indeed. do you reckon chris will do voices again, or that big budget films have gone to his head.
Posted by benhorsfield at May 17, 2004 05:10 PM
I'd love him to. I'd really love him to. Not convinced he will, though...
I think the fact he's done Massive Engines shows that big budget films haven't gone to his head - whatever that may mean.
Posted by John Hoare at May 17, 2004 05:14 PM
Chris hasn't let films go to his head cos a) he knows deep down tomb raider is shite and also he had bit parts in both :D
If only Craig was like Chris, based on the characters they play in RD you'd reckon Craig would have been the down to earth one, alas not :\
Hope Chris does it, bombard Ben at his official site with a petition :D
If Bens reading that ... I'm .... er..... joking
Posted by Drzymala at May 17, 2004 05:35 PM
I don't think we'll see Barrie, Grant or Naylor back for this. It depends on how 'Massive Engines' does - did anyone else hear that Jane Root (BBC2) was to become the head of it?
Oh and I don't know if you know about this, so just ignore if it you want.
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0366780/
Posted by Rad at May 17, 2004 06:00 PM
> I don't think we'll see Barrie, Grant or Naylor back for this.
Agreed. It would be lovely, but it won't happen.
> Oh and I don't know if you know about this, so just ignore if it you want.
> http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0366780/
Ah, now, I've heard about the film; but I didn't know Llewellyn was in it! Thanks for that.
Posted by John Hoare at May 17, 2004 06:03 PM
The fact they're asking all the old voice actors back is a VERY GOOD THING.
Enfield, Bremner and Sessions are definitely confirmed if this proposal is accepted, and I can imagine Chris Barrie amongst others being more than happy to return. Wonder what they'll do about Steve Nallon - he's hardly going to have too much to do if he returns...
This series could be great y'know. I'm particularly looking forward to the potential prospect of new songs from the almighty Brown/Pope partnership.
Possibly connected - tonight's TOTP2 features The Chicken Song. Great comedy record, but I prefer its festive followup Santa Claus Is On The Dole (also penned by Grant/Naylor/Pope, and due to be hosted on Cappsy's site before it was reported by a cunt).
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 17, 2004 06:34 PM
Proper version of that interview, including stuff about bringing the old team back, on the Media Guardian site, or quoted here - http://chilled.cream.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2568 - if you can't be arsed with their registration.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 17, 2004 06:37 PM
Hmmm. If some of the original voice actors are coming back, you could be right - Barrie is a possibility. I will wet my pants if this happens.
Posted by John Hoare at May 17, 2004 07:37 PM
I bet Steve Coogan wouldn't come back, though.
Posted by Seb at May 17, 2004 08:33 PM
He's no longer the same bloke anyway.
Also, as Peter Baynham's "cult" "hit" 'I Am Not An Animal' has proved, he's now horribly limited as a voice actor, making him a lot less useful than he once was. He used to be really enthusiastic and full to bursting with the spirit of comedy, but creatively he's completely let himself go.
Mind you, I still don't think he would automatically say no to 'The All-New-Star Spitting Image Comedy Sketch Show' (as ITV will no doubt rename it).
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 17, 2004 08:50 PM
What is it about the Coogan/Baynham/Ianucci etc. set that makes them do some absolutely brilliant stuff and some absolute shite, with barely anything in between?
Posted by Seb at May 17, 2004 09:06 PM
The 1997 Partridge series is one of the greatest pieces of television comedy in the history of television comedy. Sadly, the follow-up 18 months ago was...a bag of wank, to put it mildly. Coogan looks pissed off as Partridge in that second series. He obviously wanted to be on a film set and not donning the stupid Norwich-based radio DJ's persona YET again. I don't think there was a joke I laughed at in that whole ser......has relapse to Series VIII...
Posted by overmydeadbody at May 18, 2004 05:43 AM
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