Camilla Swift Camilla Swift

Behind the scenes at Spitting Image

BBC4’s Arena documentary shows just how biting – and tricky to make – the classic satirical series was

[Getty Images/Shutterstock/iStock/Alamy] 
issue 08 March 2014

If Margaret Thatcher is remembered by many more as a caricature than as her actual self, then blame Spitting Image. The show, which ran from 1984 to 1996, portrayed her variously as a cross-dresser, a fascist and a bully but, to her credit, she never complained. Or, if she did, there’s no record of it.

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