Spitting Image has defended its decision to include a puppet of Greta Thunberg in its new series.
The political satire show returns on Saturday (3 October) to streaming service BritBox, with a new series of episodes taking aim at political and pop cultural figures through the use of distorted and caricatured puppets.
However, after an image of Thunberg’s puppet was released, many critics argued that it was unfair to mock the climate activist, who is 17 years old and has autism.
In response, group director of streaming video on demand at ITV Reemah Sakaan said that the Swedish teenager was fair game and would be making an appearance to mention rising temperatures on Earth.
“It’s a very straightforward joke and is nothing to do with her as an individual,” Sakaan told the Broadcasting Press Guild.
BritBox boss Will Harrison also pointed out that Thunberg had liked the picture of her puppet on Twitter after it was revealed last week.
It comes after Spitting Image creator Roger Law insisted that the new series would mock both right and left-wing figures on its return.
Explaining that there was “no fun” in only targeting the right, Law said: “There’s lots of ammunition to throw at the other side as well. You go for them all.”
As well as Conservative politicians such as Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab being parodied in puppet form, celebrities including Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, RuPaul, Adele, Elon Musk, Beyonce, and James Corden will also be given the Spitting Image treatment.
