Courtroom Battle Breaks Out as Spitting Image Production Company Faces Lawsuit Over Beloved Character Episode
Among countless fans who adore Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed creation epitomizes the quintessence of British courtesy and understatement – making this new portrayal as a substance-using, potty-mouthed podcast host especially controversial.
Nevertheless, the comedic reinterpretation of Paddington by the team behind Spitting Image has proven too much for the production company and estate that control the intellectual property.
Legal Proceedings Initiated Against Production Company
StudioCanal, behind the hit Paddington movies, are joining forces with Bond's estate to sue British production company Avalon, which produced Paddington's radical reimagining.
A legal filing, first reported by industry media, cites intellectual property and design right issues. The legal document omits the specifics of the claim, but it comes after Paddington's appearance in the most recent Spitting Image YouTube show, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
The show includes segments about Elon Musk, former presidents and Keir Starmer. It also parodies ubiquitous podcasts where hosts discuss achieving success.
Controversial Portrayal Particulars
The show is hosted by a typical Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a dishevelled-looking Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington starts by declaring he doesn't actually talk like Ben Whishaw, the award-winning actor who voices the character in recent movie versions.
He then changes to a generic South American accent before exclaiming: "I am from Peru, motherfuckers – I am Paddington Bear from Peru! You most likely remember me from the films Paddington, Paddington 2 and Paddington in Peru. I also had a starring role in the Netflix series Narcos, as Pablo Escobear. It is a joke. Laugh, muchachos."
At the end of the segment, a disorderly Paddington is shown snorting a white powder before apparently losing consciousness.
Background Information of Satirical Show
The court action come several weeks after Avalon launched The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a poke at the successful stable of podcasts created by multiple media companies.
The show's launch on YouTube in July marked a fresh phase for Spitting Image, which has a rich history of upsetting its subjects – typically politicians, rather than beloved children's characters.
- Initial run was among the most-watched programmes in the 1980s
- Ended only in 1996 after viewing figures waned
- Revived in 2020 for digital platform BritBox
- Continued for two series before being cancelled again
Platform Adaptation
Its latest version on YouTube has been adapted for the platform. Episodes are between 10 and 15 minutes, created to attract viewers who scroll through suggested videos.
In the premiere episode, watched more than half a million times, Paddington and Harry speak with Musk, and Paddington urges the conservative billionaire to go to Mars. "You are too much genius for one planet," he says. "As I say about my cocaine, it is only right to share."
He later says the secret to his personal glow is "100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine."
The duo also announce an advert for guns. Paddington says: "Go to Bogotá and ask for Matthias. Tell him Paddington sent you."
The bear begins another segment by observing: "And that's why I said 'no' to Harry Potter. Paddington Bear gets out his wand for no one."
Official Responses
StudioCanal refused to comment. A spokesperson for Michael Bond's estate said they were unable to speak as the matter was the focus of court action.
Avalon has been reached out to for response.
