Spitting Image team say they’re “baffled” by Paddington Bear lawsuit – and insist their parody is going nowhere

The revamped Spitting Image, a satirical puppet show created by Al Murray and Matt Forde and now on YouTube, is facing legal action. StudioCanal, the company behind the Paddington films, and the owners of the James Bond franchise have filed a complaint in court. They’re concerned about copyright and design rights after the show featured a puppet version of Paddington Bear.

“We’re baffled by that, to be honest,” says Murray. ‘If we were going to expect anything, it would be a hard stare from Paddington.”

This new take on Paddington Bear is a wild departure from the gentle character we know. He’s been transformed into a rough, intense parody – think Pablo Escobar, but with a love for something stronger than marmalade. He even hosts a podcast called ‘The Rest is Bullsh*t’, a send-up of the popular ‘Rest is…’ podcasts, and is joined by a similarly exaggerated version of Prince Harry.

According to Forde, when it came to choosing podcast hosts, there were two people they immediately wanted. He says they were the first people considered for the job.

Okay, so the character is *definitely* over the top, but honestly, the filmmakers, Forde and Murray, have said it’s all meant to be funny. They’re not trying to make a statement or anything – just pure comedy, apparently.

As Murray points out, turning a beloved character on their head is a classic comedy technique. They weren’t aiming for originality with Paddington; instead, they took the traditionally wholesome and well-behaved bear and explored his potential opposite side – a bit like the satirical puppet show *Spitting Image* did with its subjects.

According to Forde, the situation is entirely self-inflicted. The lawsuits have actually increased viewership of the Paddington depiction they were trying to suppress, creating an ironic outcome.

Is it potentially a case of miscommunication involving the ‘British sense of humour’?

Murray believes that playful teasing and self-deprecating humor are traditionally valued in British culture. However, he’s noticed a growing trend of people trying to suppress jokes, which he finds strange and feels like a threat to comedy itself.

People generally enjoy it when you playfully tease or make fun of things, but that changes quickly if you mock something they care about. Suddenly, your humor isn’t so funny to them anymore.

What really surprised them was that the threat of a lawsuit came from other people in the creative industry.

Murray points out that those at StudioCanal likely felt similarly to how many people reacted when Jimmy Kimmel’s show was temporarily removed from the air – probably upset and frustrated, given their creative and sensitive natures.

It seems like people are trying to apply that same logic to Paddington, which I find really puzzling and frustrating.

Honestly, while the whole lawsuit over Paddington – seriously, a fictional bear and a puppet show! – sounds ridiculous, it’s made me think about something bigger. It’s not just about a silly legal battle; it’s really about where we draw the line with free speech, especially with everything going on politically right now. It’s a surprisingly important conversation hidden inside a funny story.

As a movie fan, I’ve noticed a really unsettling trend – the idea that anyone, from any side of the political spectrum, can fall into wanting to control others. It’s scary because that pressure to dominate doesn’t come from one particular group; it’s something that seems to exist across the board, on both the left and the right. It makes you realize how easily authoritarian tendencies can pop up, no matter where you expect them.

Power structures, whether in government or big business, are increasingly able to silence individuals. This isn’t limited to comedians; the ability of those in power to punish dissenting voices has far-reaching consequences, potentially impacting people in many different fields.

As a movie lover, I always feel uneasy when I see people dismissing something with a shrug, like, ‘Oh, I didn’t care for that actor anyway, so it doesn’t bother me.’ It feels naive, honestly. Because eventually, whatever forces are silencing others *will* come for you too, and then it’ll be your voice they’re trying to quiet.

People often react negatively to comedy because they dislike being the subject of jokes, but the real problem isn’t the humor itself – it’s the principle of being able to express ideas freely.

Murray, Forde, and Sean Foley created a successful live theatre show called Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical, which led them to start a new YouTube show. They discovered that, unlike television, theatre allowed them complete creative control over their content without outside interference.

Murray explains that the direct connection with the audience was the most impactful part of the experience, saying, ‘There was nothing separating us from them.’

As comedians, we’re used to writing and performing material directly, and there’s something genuine about that process,” Forde explains. “Once jokes go through multiple steps or get reviewed by others, they tend to lose some of their impact. And I think audiences today want comedy that’s really bold and powerful.

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

This isn’t the first time the classic ’80s show has been brought back. In 2021, ‘Spitting Image’ returned briefly, with both Murray and Forde involved – Murray as a writer and Forde providing voices. The show satirized contemporary figures like Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg, but ITV cancelled it after only two seasons.

Creating their satirical sketches is much easier now that they host their show on YouTube.

Forde explains that television comedy can sometimes suffer from excessive rules and slow decision-making. He believes this new, smaller team and faster production process allows the show to be much more impactful and funny.

The show is clearly popular with audiences. It’s already been viewed almost 12 million times on YouTube, and is attracting millions more viewers on other streaming services.

They think the strong media response shows people really want more political satire, and they’re excited to update this classic show for modern smartphone users.

According to Forde, the key is to satirize current trends and popular figures. Being able to do that in 2025, using platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram, and create something that appeals to younger audiences is incredibly exciting.

Paddington isn’t the only thing viewers can enjoy – the show also features hilarious parodies of famous people, including Taylor Swift and Vladimir Putin. However, comedian Forde particularly loves doing his impression of Donald Trump.

He describes working with the Trump puppet as incredibly enjoyable. He says the puppet is a remarkably detailed and exaggerated likeness, and that the creative process – both writing and improvising – allows them to embody and portray Trump’s persona in a unique and expressive way.

The duo satirizes people across the political landscape, but insists their personal beliefs never affect how they portray those characters.

Forde explains that while it’s enjoyable to playfully tease these figures, there needs to be a basis in reality. The humor should be exaggerated and absurd, but it has to connect with something people genuinely see in the characters being parodied.

The political aspect becomes secondary; it’s really about poking fun at the characters themselves, and they just happen to be involved in politics.

According to Murray, a puppet impression doesn’t need to be perfectly accurate. Because puppets aren’t realistic to begin with, they only need to capture the core personality of the person they’re portraying. As Matt puts it, the impression needs a ‘grain of truth,’ and then you can exaggerate from there.

The current run of Spitting Image will last for 12 episodes, but what about the show’s future?

Murray explains they’re testing to see if the idea is viable and if people will be interested. He adds that a big advantage is not having to wait for approval – a common frustration for comedians who often spend time developing material only to need someone else’s permission to share it.

As a viewer, I just wonder why we don’t see more shows like this,” Forde explains. “It was really disappointing that Spitting Image disappeared for so long.

We’ve seen a lot of our recent content, especially from the last couple of episodes, become really popular online, which shows people are really enjoying this type of humor. We want to keep creating content that resonates with audiences and continues to be well-received.

And let’s not forget the dog! It seems he’s staying with us for a while longer – he won’t be going back to Peru anytime soon.

Forde playfully suggests, ‘If you asked our Paddington…’ He describes Paddington as full of energy and eager to work.