Forum Topic

RE Spitting Image & the BBC

I was initially really excited to hear that Spitting Image was being remade,  anything to make light of the dark times we find ourselves in.  If I have understood correctly though this programme will only be available through Britbox which you have to subscribe too and pay for despite it being a BBC programme (unsure of the level of involvement with ITV).I dislike the constant attacks on the BBC but I don't think charging licence fee payers again for a desired programme is going to bode well.  Thoughts?

Matthew Swain ● 2224d15 Comments

We pay over £12 monthly for the bbc - now they ask us to pay further for programs are they joking-

Helen Bamberger ● 2224d

Just been told I have to pay £2.71 as I answered a pole from my doctors as I was asked whether I enjoyed my experience!!!!  Never again !!!!

Helen Bamberger ● 2224d

Spitting Image was originally broadcast by ITVBritBox is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV and has over 1m subscribers from the US, Canada and Australia - that’s foreign investment coming into the UK for them to reinvest back into programming. Bash the BBC all you want but try and get your facts straight.

James Carter ● 2224d

Britbox is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV with ITV  the senior partner in terms of initial investment.. "Spitting Image" was always an ITV show; presumably the new series is being commissioned specifically for Britbox as an attractant to gather subscribers. The bulk of the Britbox library will be from the archives of the BBC and ITV. I can't really see the attraction myself, but time will tell. This is the official line on ownership:"BritBox will be an ITV-controlled venture, but as a founding partner, the BBC will contribute to the development of the core purposes and strategic direction of the venture. ITV initially holds 90% and the BBC holds 10% of the equity. The BBC has an option to acquire additional shares over time up to 25% in total and ITV will have the ability to bring additional investors on board. ITV will be able to appoint a majority of the BritBox board while the BBC's equity stake provides it with board representation from the outset."

Bruce Hammal ● 2224d

Spitting Image isn't made by the BBC or ITV. It is Spitting Image Productions that have created the new series and I imagine they then offered it up to the highest bidder. In this case Britbox.

Paul Scullion ● 2224d

My memory of the previous series was that the puppets were excellent but the scripts were mostly juvenile.

Richard Greenhough ● 2224d

so which one were you Dicky?

James Smith-Jones ● 2224d

The reason im told it is to be on britbox is becasue they feel its to controversial for main stream chs now. Just think about those two in LA and how they are portraid if spitting image is like its past. Another one for the lawyers to get stuck into and get them removed from the programme no doubt

Julian Pavey ● 2224d

"so which one were you Dicky"? Hardly worth replying to, Richard. Sorry for being obsequious.

Brian Coyle ● 2223d

Guess it won't be on Freeview then?  I'd love to see it but I can't be bothered to faff around with additional subscriptions other than the BBC.  Between the terrestrial channels and Freeview thare's usually more than enough for me to watch. Occasionally I would have liked to have seen something on one of the Sky channels not on Freeview, such as some of the nature programmes, and Judy, but for the occasional one that I would like to see it's just not worth an additional sub.

Claire Moran ● 2223d

Claire, is that 'Judy', the equivalent of our Judge Rinder?

Brian Coyle ● 2223d

No, Brian, the critically acclaimed play about Judy Garland starring the amazing Renee Zellweger. Was that a pathetic attempt at humour or are you completely uncultured?

Claire Moran ● 2223d

And off she goes.

Stewart Jones ● 2223d

I have to say that i thought Judge Judy aswell. Only other Judy i thought of was a weekend camping many moons ago. Booze and tent poles was the downfall that night. 😁

Julian Pavey ● 2223d

Based on the clips of the new Spitting Image that I have seen, particularly of the ones containing Boris Johnson, the government would have scrapped the licence fee within a week if it was broadcast free to air.

Felicity Caborn ● 2223d