Spitting Image - Episode Guide

We visit a nursing home for terminally bewildered ex-prime ministers, Bob Dylan performs a protest song about cheese, Colonel Muammar Gadaffi presents the award for International Terrorist of the Year, the Reverend Ian Paisley tells God what's what and there's the latest thrilling video from Michael Jackson - or is that Diana Ross?

Mrs. Thatcher takes some neighbourly advice over the privet hedge from the gentleman at No. 9, a Herr von Wilcox (who happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to Adolf Hitler), Bob Dylan sings a song about his stolen underpants, and Ronald Reagan features in the latest instalment of The President's Brain is Missing.

Thatcher and Tebbit interrogate Nigel Lawson on his budget proposals, Mark Thatcher opens his first bank account, Prince Charles visits The Falklands and Janet Street Germ reports live from Nancy Reagan's navel.

Shirley Williams is dragged backwards through a hedge in preparation for an appearance on Newsnight, Prince Philip has a flirty encounter with Nancy Reagan aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, David Attenborough is on the look out for an anteater and Mary Whitehouse takes an ice-cold bath.

We go behind the scenes as Patrick Lichfield photographs the Queen, 'Randy Andy' Prince Andrew and Prince Charles compare fan letters and Prince Phillip introduces Charles to a secret society meeting in the Buckingham Palace laundry.

In this episode we finally find out the whereabouts of Lord Lucan: could he have been hiding out in Cyril Smith's oversized trousers all this time? Barry Manilow's encounter with an obsessive anteater leads to a case of mistaken identity and Mrs. Thatcher's cabinet prepare for nuclear war.

Nancy Reagan is featured in a campaign video entitled "Da Do Run Ron" on behalf of the Republican party, Francois Mitterrand persuades Mrs. Thatcher to buy UHT milk, Norman Fowler MP is on the prowl for unsuspecting hospitals in Murder Most Fowle, and the Saatchi & Saatchi agency sets to work on Mrs. Thatcher's image.

Mrs. Thatcher has a nightmare and we are on the set of It'll Be Alright On The Night with Denis Norden and a 589 egg omelette. Elsewhere in Masterclass Julian Lloyd Webber goes head to head with Henry Cooper, and there is the latest instalment of The President's Brain Is Missing.

We join Pope John Paul II and the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie on their world tour with a crew of hell-raising roadie nuns, That's Life and Death with Esther Rantzen chasing the ratings, and the Cabinet plot a revolt.
 

The Royals sit down to a game of Monopoly but it is a foregone conclusion who is going to win! Neil Kinnock wrestles with his conscience (James Callaghan as a devil and Michael Foot as an angel on each shoulder), Brian Walden is subjected to an interrogation by Rupert Murdoch's henchmen and it's Let's Speak Afrikaans with P.W. Botha.

There is strife on the studio floor when Robin Day refuses to give up the BBC jumper, Cecil Parkinson - the man who made just one mistake, twice a night for fourteen years - is offered the job of foreign secretary, and preparations are underway at No. 10 for Mark Thatcher's wedding.
 

The two year-old Prince William blackmails Charles into abdicating, Thatcher and Kinnock go head-to-head on an edition of Call My Bluff hosted by Jim Callaghan and we look at How to be a University Student.

Ronald Reagan loses out in a debate with a cheese sandwich, Boy George sings a song about how war is naughty, Saint and Greavsie discuss the hostage crisis, the Royal Family attempt to come up with a name for the new arrival and there is a look back over the changing political views of David Owen in a special edition of 28Up.

In this episode Prince William continues in his plot to usurp his father, there's a lesson on Italian football and in Film '85 Barry Norman looks at the new Dustin Hoffman film The Lettuce.

Margaret Thatcher is woken by the dawn chorus, Liz Taylor gorges herself with her new cookery class, Donald Sinden advertises his preferred brand of coffee and Sir John Gielgud reads an excerpt from The A-Team in the original Latin.

Prince William attempts to sell his baby brother to a surrogacy agency, Steve Davis bemoans his lack of a nickname, there is the latest chart-topper from Wham! and Margaret Thatcher plans to do something about the sick and elderly - by abolishing the House of Lords!.

Nigel Lawson attempts to save the pound, the Royal Family play a game of charades and Lester Piggott's horse has something to say about his rider.

Mikhail Gorbachev throws a groovy party at the Kremlin. Lady Di tells a bedtime story. Sir Alistair Burnett and Sooty present Rubber News. Melvyn Bragg is investigated on Roger Cook's Checkpoint. Roger Moore shows off his emotional range. Leon Britton presents the Price is Right. Status Quo performs their latest hit from the album "Unavailable".

In this episode it is the day before Parliament closes and the cabinet are allowed to bring board games in to play, Chancellor Nigel Lawson is put on the spot when asked to explain the FT Index and the Queen forgets to Troop the Colour.

In this episode Claire Rayner's post bag is fit to burst, Heseltine is busy shredding secret papers and in "Game for a Naff" Jeremy Beadle seeks to expose Denis Norden.

Some portions are presented in glorious Upside Down-O-Vision. The 1985 Academy Award for Over-Acting are awarded. Death goes to the pub. Vincent Price as invited a group of celebrity to an old sinister house. Mark Thatcher and the Invisible Man read Rubber News. Princess Diana insist on rewrites for her real life soap opera "Pallas". Bruce Springsteen performs "Born to Teach Woodwork".

Prince Charles has a problem eating his greens whilst Nigel Lawson is worried that he may go down in history as the Chancellor who couldn't even look after a red suitcase.

On the trail of 'Cedric the Hyena', Saint and Greavsie find themselves in a disaster movie.
 

In this episode, the Royals tread on eggshells as they await the arrival of Princess Michael of Kent, the Cabinet celebrate Michael Heseltine's resignation, President Reagan is let in on the Star Wars programme and Barry Norman looks at the British Film Year. Also celebrities rally round to record the charity anthem We're Scared of Bob (Geldof).

Prince Andrew is in trouble with his Pa for the size of his unmentionables, Wogan chooses Sooty to stand in as his holiday replacement and Mrs. Thatcher works on a new, softer image.

Sir David Attenborough has a philosophical discussion with a suicidal seal, the Royals aren't impressed with Diana's constant name-dropping and on Points of View Barry Took asks why oh why oh why is there not enough snooker on television? Also features Steve 'Interesting' Davis's rap and the latest single from Madonna, Repetition.

In this episode, Desmond Wilcox presents his new, intrusive fly-on-the-wall documentary, Charles and Di are hounded by the press on their skiing trip and Alastair Burnet comes to blows with John Craven when he tries to steal his news. Meanwhile the Royals take a specially chartered commuter train from Balmoral and at the Tory Party conference there is a rousing chorus of Jerusalem.

Arthur Daley has to bow out from Mrs. Thatcher's service because he is not sleazy enough, we go down on the farm with Jim Callaghan, Kinnock and co break into Downing Street and the Queen Mother goes shopping for a new hat. Also Jools Holland hosts The Tube featuring Bruce Sringsteen and ZZ Top singing We Got Beards.

Andy and Fergie try to sort out their wedding invitations, The Who discover they are no longer the voice of urban youth and Bowie and Sting discuss their acting prowess. Meanwhile, The Chicken Song gets a full airing.

In this episode: Michael Grade refuses to commission anything other than snooker, Frank Muir threatens to strangle Denis Norden (again) and Bernard Manning runs out of people to hate so turns on himself. Also Henry Cooper steps into the ring with Frank Bruno, One Man And His Wig with Paul Daniels and there is the latest from Phil Collins.

Joan Rivers gets in a flap when she appears without her make up, a pair of Mormons pretend to be out when Cliff Richard answers the door and Terry Waite brings back some duty free souvenirs for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Also the hazards of driving whilst using a mobile phone and there is the latest from Julio Iglesias.

Selina Scott has a revelation in the BBC canteen, Rupert Murdoch visits a fortune teller and in One Man And His Dog Reagan puts Thatcher through an obedience test. Also Prince Andrew photographs The Queen for her bus pass, the 'other' half of Wham! launches a solo career and on the golf course Bruce Forsyth looks for a new catchphrase.

In this episode, Prince Charles visits an adult video store, Tarby And Friend features the Liverpudlian comic interviewing Michael Cane and Russell Harty is a little flustered when he interviews Samantha Fox's breasts. Also Michael Grade discovers that lovable Cockneys that are 'up the junction' go up the ratings and President Reagan enlists the services of the 'Four Larrys of the Apocalypse'.

There is a new panel show hosted by Denis Norden called Looks Unfamiliar, the Royal Family have a sing song around the old Joanna, whilst David Owen tries to return the SDP to the shop where he got it from in the dead party sketch. Also Mrs. Thatcher concludes that Europe is doomed and suggests the Cabinet make a new start by breeding.

David Coleman hosts the Euro Winkle Championships from Stuttgart, Dire Straits try to corner the yuppie market with their new single and Geoffrey Howe receives his orders for what to do about South Africa in Mission:Impossible. Also, Thatcher raises the sore subject of choosing a successor and Cecil Parkinson is the guinea pig for a new male contraceptive pill.

In this episode; Alistair Burnett rolls out the red carpet for Charles and Di, Melvyn Bragg interviews Pavorotti about the claim that he could fill any concert hall in world and Bruce Forsyth has reservations about Tarbie's new material. Also The Queen enlists Billy Connolly to help with her Christmas message and Sting sings a song about the state of the world.

Bryan Ferry's record company refuse to re-release another greatest hits album - until he writes a new song, Prince Charles embarks on an affair with a plant and Edwina Currie gives patients a fright when she visits a new heart unit. Also Paul Daniels considers becoming a Buddhist monk to conceal his baldness and there is a new rock compilation 'Hooked On Drugs'.

Prince Philip makes another gaffe on a Royal tour of China, there is the horrifying tale of Dr Owen and Mr Steele and Mary Whitehouse finds vulgarity in Songs of Praise. Also in a spoof of the famous British Gas adverts 'Sid' gasses himself.

In this episode, Paul Daniels uses his magic to get EastEnders to the top of the ratings, Wogan is trapped in the television and Mrs. Thatcher approaches Mr Beelzebub with a little business proposition. Also Linda McCartney helps Paul with his latest tune and there is the latest from Grace Jones.

In this episode the Nine O'Clock News is hijacked by Norman Tebbit and Santa Claus is on the dole. Norman Tebbit ensures that the Government gets unbiased news coverage by doing it all himself. Brucie Forsyth tries to get his toupee past Customs and the Two Davids get a visit from the Ghost of the Liberal Party Past.

In this episode; the harshness of Lester Piggott's prison sentence is put under scrutiny, there is the latest single from Michael Jackson - I'm Mad - and Peter Wright is The Spy Who Lived in Australia.

Prince Charles attempts to improve his street cred by hanging out with rock stars, Thatcher tells the Cabinet to re-privatise the already privatised British Telecom and there is more confusion for Ronald Reagan at Caspar Weinberger's retirement bash.

Donald Sinden presents a Royal Bust-Up Special can it be true that Sir Alastair has split from the Royal couple? Ronald Reagan ponders his eventual retirement and George Bush tries to beef up his image.

In this episode, The Sun celebrates its 18th birthday, there is an update on the 'Great Richard Branson Virgin World Ego Trip Challenge' and in court Sly Stallone launches an action over the ownership of Brigitte Nielsen's breasts.

Bruce Forsyth attempts to console Jimmy Tarbuck at the death of his one and only joke, Prince Philip goes shooting and Jeffrey Archer is distressed when he can't find his book stocked in any of the shops.

In this episode: in preparation for his latest role Robert de Niro takes 'method acting' to ridiculous extremes, a suit visits the tailor to be measured for a new Jonathan Ross and the Royals perform a version of We Are The Champions.

Christmas Special featuring a fancy dress party at Number Ten, another boring Perry Como Special, various spoofs of classic Christmas pop songs, as well as "The Snow Man in the Kalahari" and "Temporary Postman Pratt".

In this episode; we take a trip to Camberwick Greenbelt with Nicholas Ridley and his bulldozer, Fergie and Andrew argue over whose turn it is to change the baby and Nigel Lawson gets lost as he takes to the skies in a helicopter in Treasury Hunt.

Cecil Parkinson is haunted by a ghost from his past, Anne Robinson presents Points of View and Janet Street-Porter is put in charge of "Youth TV".

This week Noel Edmonds presents Telly Morons, we have The Very Last Of The Summer Wine returning for the 150th series, Terry Wogan presents another charity fund-raising special and Anneka Rice is on the hunt for the local hospital as she goes into labour live on air.

Prince Edward discovers a talent directing the acts of the Royal Variety Performance, Robert Maxwell sings Putting Out The Ritz and Andrew Lloyd Webber presents his latest musical.

In this episode; there is panic at the BBC when Sue Lawley's legs disappear, Steve 'Interesting' Davis goes to Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE, and Elizabeth Taylor checks into the 'Betty Ford Celebrity Drying Out Clinic'.

Muriel Gray looks at the future of television, there is a rendition of Kill An Estate Agent Today, Princess Di installs a satellite dish at the palace, there is a look at the popular Russian daytime soap Comrades and a warning of the privatisation of Britain's Railways. This show also closes with the epic Margaret Thatcher rendition of Frank Sinatra's (I Did It) My Way.

Mick Jagger presides over the wedding of Bill Wyman and Mandy Smith, Thatcher is subject to a bizarre experiment, Roger Cook is disappointed when he doesn't have a door slammed in his face and there is a strike at the BBC.

David Steel travels to Italy in a gondola in search of floating voters, Charles and Di take a trip to 'Inner-city Trumpton' and in an election special David Dimbleby looks back fifty years to announce that the Nazis have taken Poland.

In this episode, Des Lynam and Gerry Williams presents the Wimbledon tennis, David Attenborough helps the police prepare for their 'annual ritual' taking place at Stonehenge and there is the latest installment from Dan Quayle in Space.

Robin Day thinks he is still compering Question Time as he prepares breakfast. In South Africa, President P.W. Botha is coaxed into retiring and The Queen receives her poll tax form.

In this episode, Jeffrey Archer narrates L'Histoire de la Revolution featuring the 'Ginger Pimpernel', the Guillotine and Maggie Antoilette! Kylie seeks some acting lessons from Gielgud and Olivier, and the Royals find themselves stuck at Gatwick airport.

In this episode; Bush, Gorbachev and Mitterand discuss German reunification, Imelda Marcos attempts to smuggle the body of her dead husband through customs and Fergie prepares for another skiing trip.

Rupert Murdoch attempts to flog a satellite dish to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cabinet plot to make Thatcher resign and in his latest stunt, Richard Branson attempts a Pacific flight using nothing but his inflated ego.

Alastair Burnet presents the Royal Variety Show, Snow White receives a visit from the poll tax office and on the historic occasion of the first televised parliamentary debate, Her Majesty The Queen formally opens 'MPTV'.

In the aftermath of her leadership contest victory, an increasingly unhinged Mrs Thatcher does some reshuffling at home, Peter Sissons fields some hostile questions about his competence for the job from a bitter Sir Robin Day on Question Time and we join war correspondent Kate Adie reporting live from her own kitchen.

In this episode; there is the latest Dennis Potter television drama, Frank Bruno takes on the most difficult challenge of his career so far - acting in a Christmas panto, and as the viewing figures for Parliament are so disappointing, the Speaker is told the 'show' is being axed.

In this special Christmas episode; there is a look at this year's must have children's toys (made in Taiwan) in My Little Injury, 'Dr' Kenneth Clarke is let loose in an NHS hospital and The Queen has a new trick to clear the table of her Christmas dinner guests.

We learn the war Safety Code, Saddam wants to be loved, The Queen and the Royal Family become hippies and Gazza cries as he has been left out of this episode.

We meet Michael Heseltine as Blondman and Thatcher walks through the House of Commons in the dark remembering her long career.

The Conservative Party rejoices after Maggie's resignation and they have to choose a new leader.

In this episode the Tory party welcome their new grey Prime Minister John Major; Andrew and Fergie show off all their money; the missing puppets story continues; God wants to become an atheist and we hear a Christmas song entitled No More Christmas Singles.

In this episode Frank Bruno cannot box his way out of a paper bag, a traffic cone becomes leader of the Labour Party, George Bush answers questions on Mastermind, flared trousers make a comeback and campaigner Mary Whitehouse fires an automatic rifle.

This episode features Gazza, new council tax bands, education cuts, children's television, the Making of Major, Prince Charles driving a taxi, and Elton John and Phil Collins sing the Bald Song.

John Smith holds press conference, Margaret Thatcher has a hangover and the Royal Family visit a strip club.

This week, the Royal Family are sold to the Japanese, Magaret Thatcher retires, the new ten pound note is introduced, and there's the Hello Magazine Song.

This week we see a grey John Major, the Queen Mother and Lester Piggott, Diana, Princess of Wales sings Heaven Knows One's Miserable Now, Mr Pervert is interviewed to run a children's home, and the Our House In A Slump song.

Sketches include a look at Election '92 results for the coal industry, the Conservative Party under John Major, Magnus Magnusson ordering a cab, the Royal Family in therapy, Terry Christian on Mastermind, and There's No Business song.

Far-2-Limited perform the No Lyrics song, plus The Queen sings One Will Survive.

Featuring George Michael in the High Court, Challenge Virginia, vox pops with John Major in London, police at 10 Downing Street, and a Shabba Ranks song.

The Spitting Image Pantomime: Cinderella Goose And The Seven Beanstalks In Boots In The Wood
Oh no it isn't, oh yes it is... the first ever Spitting Image panto! Get ready to look behind you as curtains rise on a rubbery concoction of everyone's favourite seasonal shows. With the country full of Christmas turkey and mince pies, John Major takes to the stage with characteristic decisiveness to present Cinderella Goose And The Seven Beanstalks In Boots In The Wood.

This episode features sketches on the European elections, the Labour Party under Tony Blair, Jack Charlton and the Irish football team, Bjork talking with a fax machine and the TARDIS, plus Sophie Rhys Jones with Prince Edward.

Sketches include The Beatles trying to contact John Lennon through a ouija board; the changing of the wives with Prince Charles, the Princess of Wales and Camilla; Paula Yates and Michael Hutchence choosing a name for their new baby; Don't Forget Your Toothbrush II with asylum seekers; plus an Oasis song.

The real-life David Frost hosts this two-part Spitting Image special in which life-size puppets lampoon American celebrities and politicians including President Reagan, Ed McMahon, Jane Fonda, Vice President Bush, Woody Allen, Henry Kissinger and Madonna. A secret cabal of celebrities plots to dominate the US government by running Sylvester Stallone as President.

Alastair Burnet announces the predicted results of the general election. Then he announces that the polls are now closed, shortly to be followed by the hospitals, the schools, and the BBC.

A satirical look at life with Ronald and Nancy Reagan, and how American politics works. Nancy throws a surprise party for the President to celebrate their 210th wedding anniversary, while Ed Meese and Casper Weinberger try to avert nuclear war.

Mock documentary about the US President Ronald Reagan. Please join us now as we pass through history's golden years to illuminate the illustrious life of actor, lifeguard, underpants salesman, GE spokesman, husband of Jane Wyman, friend of Frank Sinatra, Governor of California and finally President of the United States: Ronald Wilson Reagan. Let the real truth be told. Reagan's true life is only known by the genius of F**k & Law puppetry, John Lloyd producing, Geoffrey Perkins directing and Ian Hislop writing, Voices of Cliff Taylor, John Sessions, Chris Berrie, just to name a few.

A Spitting Image special satirising the life of Margaret Thatcher and parodying musicals such as Oliver! and West Side Story.

The classic election special from 1992. Will the grey man or the windbag be the one to ruin Britain? Includes sketches and scenes with a Question Time-style audience, and ends with a take-off of the Monty Python song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".

A double dose of spit is in store for the Royal Family, politicians and the stars of stage, screen and sport as Spitting Image recalls their finest - and worst moments. Compiled from highlights from 1991 and 1992, this offers another chance to see the rubbery debuts of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hugh Laurie - and John and Norma Major dining on their peas.

It's movie mania as Spitting Image recalls some of the big cinema spoofs of the years. Maastricht - The Movie stars Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson as John and Norma Major. Gerald Kaufman is Hannibal Lecter in a Spitting Image version of The Silence Of The Lambs. Presented by The Queen and Prince Philip, Spitting Back features another chance to see the highlights of Spitting Image from December 1991.
Notes - This could be the desc for Show 3.

There's a flashback to the weekend after the 1992 General Election. John Major announces his new cabinet with Virginia Bottomley as Minister for Being Pretty, Chris Patten is banned from the House of Commons and Neil Kinnock consoles himself with a song at the piano. There's also a group therapy session for journalists unable to accept that the election is over. Presented by The Queen and Prince Edward, these are the highlights of Spitting Image from Spring 1992.

In another look back at Spring 1992, Dot Cotton and Mikhail Gorbachev, Frank Bruno and Magnus Magnusson, and The Queen and a Chippendale are some of the more unusual pairings in this programme. Presented by The Queen and Prince Philip, Esther Rantzen investigates some disturbing rumours that That's Life is facing the axe.

The Queen and royal manservant Muriel present further sketches from Spring 1992. There's an exclusive chance to see the bloopers from the Queen's Christmas message as Denis Norden presents a rubbery version of It'll Be Alright On The Night, and there's a threat to the monarchy as the retired Mrs Thatcher tells her home help she's going to be given a title - Queen.

A documentary about Spitting Image (1984) and the impact it had, including clips of the most memorable moments and contributions from many of the cast, crew and some of celebrities portrayed on the show.