Paddington producers sue TV puppet show over foul-mouthed parody of bear

The Paddington Bear producers have sued British TV puppet show Spitting Image over its foul-mouthed parody of television’s favourite bear.

The satirical puppet show depicted the beloved children’s character as red-eyed and drug-addled in a skit for its new YouTube series, titled Spitting Image: The Rest Is Bulls*!t.

In the sketch, which also features a caricature of the Duke of Sussex as podcast co-host, Paddington introduces himself by saying: “I am from Peru, motherf---ers. I am Paddington Bear from Peru.”

When asked what is the secret to his “personal glow”, the bear says his healthcare routine involves “100 per cent Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine”.

The original Paddington character, as written in Michael Bond’s books, was brought up by his Aunt Lucy in Peru after being orphaned at a few weeks old.

Entertainment news outlet Deadline revealed StudioCanal, Paddington Bear’s rights holder and producer of the hit films, filed a High Court complaint citing design rights concerns and copyright.

While the filing does not reveal the particulars of the claim against Spitting Image’s production company, Avalon, it comes just months after its new series was released on YouTube.

Paddington wears his signature red hat and blue overcoat in the sketch, but his eyes are bloodshot and his behaviour erratic.

While speaking in an exaggerated South American accent, Paddington interviews Elon Musk and reads ads for guns and robot sex dolls.

Paddington’s puppet also jokes that he had a starring role in Netflix’s series about the Colombian cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar as “Pablo Esco-bear”.

Elsewhere, Harry’s puppet says: “I’m here to tell my truth and make a shit ton of money out of podcasting as I don’t have any discernible talent.”

Fans of the beloved bear have pushed back against the episode, which is a satirical take on the popular podcast The Rest is Politics, with one writing on TikTok that his childhood has been “ruined” and another saying: “We cannot stand for the disrespect of Paddington Bear!”

It is not the first time Spitting Image has mocked Paddington Bear, with the show seemingly using this drug-addled version in stage shows in 2023.

A poster for Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image the Musical features the dishevelled bear under the headline: “Cocaine bear has got nothing on Paddington in Peru.”

The accompanying caption reads: “Paddington’s back … and he’s been through a lot recently.”

Another promotional post on X showed a picture of the bear apparently at Buckingham Palace, with the caption: “Are we sure it’s just marmalade in those sandwiches, Paddington?”

Other celebrities targeted in the series reboot include Taylor Swift, US Vice President JD Vance and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

It follows the show’s 2020 return to TV through BritBox, which was described by The Telegraph as “the reanimated corpse” of Spitting Image.

StudioCanal declined to comment.

The Telegraph, London

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