...after first episode boosts Britbox numbers

The second series of the revived  Spitting Image will air next autumn, Britbox has today confirmed.

Series two had already commissioned at the same time of the first, with today’s announcement of the timing coming just  days after the first returning episode dropped on the streaming service.

The company says that new subscribers to the service increased ten-fold on Saturday compared to the average daily rate, and hails the impact online, saying  sketches have been seen 7.5million times on social media.

Reemah Sakaan, Britbox’s chief creative officer, said: ‘The fantastic response to Spitting Image just goes to show how much the world needs public service satire. 

‘Not only can subscribers look forward to another 9 weeks of anarchy but also now another series in 2021.’

The news comes after Jon Thoday, executive producer at programme-makers Avalon, revealed that US network NBC rejected plans for an American version of the show, claiming they were afraid of causing offence.

More than 100 puppets have already been developed for the show, which is made as close to transmission as possible. 

Published: 7 Oct 2020