Spitting Image 2025 is funny, filthy, forensic and, on YouTube, a force for good

For a span of twelve years since its launch in 1984, the talented cast – including budding stars like Harry Enfield, Steve Coogan, and others – skillfully navigated the boundaries of analog broadcasting and kept their commissioners on edge. As Roger Law, one of its co-creators, put it this week, “The world of TV was taken by surprise.” Now, after a television comeback in 2020 and a live stage performance two years ago, it’s making a resurgence once more.

Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega, Joanna Lumley and Catherine Zeta-Jones star on this week’s Radio Times

In the contemporary cinematic landscape, it’s refreshing to see British actors taking on American roles, a testament to our growing inclusivity. This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with two remarkable women who have gracefully embodied American characters – Catherine Zeta-Jones, an Oscar winner for her portrayal in Chicago, and the incomparable Joanna Lumley.

Joanna Lumley on acting: “I’ve had no career – I was trying to earn money to keep myself alive”

The style of a character’s hair plays a significant role in how she presents herself: “I prefer to wear a wig or something else that makes me look different from what I currently do. This is especially true for me since I host travel shows under my own name, Joanna. When I have a wig, it changes my appearance and creates a new impression. This change affects not only the viewers but also helps me deliver a unique performance. Ideally, the transformation would be so striking that people would exclaim, ‘Wow! It’s Joanna!’ However, this doesn’t always happen.” She expresses a hint of disappointment before adding, “Laurence Olivier used to appreciate a good nose.

Bring Her Back – REVIEW

However, the mistreatment of Piper (Sora Wong), a blind schoolgirl eager to connect with her peers, persists as she encounters the cruel popular girls who mock her impairment. Matters take a turn for the worse when Piper and her brother Andy (Billy Barratt) discover their father deceased in the bathroom, forcing them into the care of Laura (Sally Hawkins), a former social worker with a foster child, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). This child is unstable, bald, and mute, often gazing vacantly into the distance like Brooklyn Beckham when asked about his occupation. From the outset, it’s evident that Laura has her own issues, though the nature of these problems remains a secret for much of the film. As the story unfolds, hints are dropped that Piper and Billy may be in grave danger in the near future.