Spitting Image puppet of Margaret Thatcher
(Picture: PA)Satirical puppet show Spitting Image has been cancelled after two years on BritBox but John Lloyd, the man who originally produced the series back in the Eighties, is not surprised.
“Political debate has lost its sense of humour,” he tells The Londoner. “I come from a different era when broadcasters were very courageous and didn’t really care what people thought.” Lloyd also produced QI and Blackadder.
Spitting Image first ran from 1984 to 1996, sending up politicians such as Margaret Thatcher and drawing up to 15 million viewers an episode. “It’s a very healthy thing that television should be lampooning the prime minister all the time,” says Lloyd, “and that hasn’t really happened. We as a country are supposedly known for being able to laugh at ourselves!”
Celeb secrets safe at The Cow
The Cow in Notting Hill is beloved by the likes of Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham. But should celeb patrons start worrying about any tipsy indiscretions at the pub? Young writer Fergus Burnand, who recently worked behind the bar, has penned a play based on the wacky conversations he overheard. Same Again opens soon at the White Bear Theatre. But fear not, Posh! He assures us the juiciest lines are anonymised.
Farage can’t take the tube
When we broke the news earlier this week that Simpson’s Tavern had closed, its regulars rushed to the rescue. But one famous diner hasn’t seen the inside of the chophouse for a while. Nigel Farage tells us that he can’t make it to the restaurant by Bank because he gets too much abuse on the Central line these days. And he says low-traffic neighbourhoods make driving to the place an impossibility. It’s a hard life.
Beatles’ bog roll bother
Abbey Road Studios still makes a big deal of its association with The Beatles. Perhaps because they were such pliant guests? In a new book by journalist David Hepworth, the studio manager from the Sixties, Ken Townsend, says the band made just one complaint in eight years. “The toilet paper is too hard and shiny,” said John Lennon, right. “Unless we get it changed, we’re going to see Sir Joseph Lockwood [EMI Chairman]”.
Last night in town
Stormzy must have felt a bit awkward bumping into his ex, Maya Jama, at the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in Leicester Square last night. The musician recently reflected on their 2019 split, describing it as “the biggest loss a man can have”. Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock vamped it up at the same event alongside the film’s star, Letitia Wright. Singer Joy Crookes went to the party launching some swanky new earphones from Nothing.
