Newzoids

Newzoids is a British topical satirical sketch show, which was co produced by Citrus Television and Factory, for ITV, and broadcast with two series, between 15 April 2015 to 8 October 2016.[1][2][3]

Newzoids
GenreComedy
Satire
Voices of
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Running time30 minutes (inc. adverts)
DistributorITV Studios
Release
Original networkITV
Original release15 April 2015 (2015-04-15) –
8 October 2016 (2016-10-08)
Chronology
Related showsSpitting Image
2DTV
Headcases
Dead Ringers
External links
Website

The programme operated in a similar format to Spitting Image,[4][5] in the use of puppets and comedic impersonators for a variety of well known celebrities of different fields (e.g. politics, entertainment), and basing sketches on current events at the time of each episode's broadcast. However, it differs in that each puppet features no moveable eyes or mouths, as these were applied with the use of CGI during editing.

Newzoids featured the voice talents of Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson and Lewis MacLeod, all from the comedy by BBC Radio 4, Dead Ringers, and featured iconic satirical appearances, for several noted British celebrities, including Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson, and Prince George of Cambridge.

Characters

All celebrities, featured in the show, are portrayed through the mixed use of live action puppets, and computer generated imagery effects; the puppets are filmed first, with the footage later enhanced with computer generated eyes, eyebrows, and mouths.

Those depicted, are caricatured. One eye of former leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage’s puppet occasionally swivels around, while American President, Donald Trump’s hair is represented as a cat on his head, whilst Prince George of Cambridge is depicted with one strong Cockney accent, and bosses about his younger sister, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.[4][5]

His catchphrase is “oi oi saveloy”, which loosely references the Cockney football chant. Theresa May appears in trailers, for a new film called Despicable May, a reference to the animated film, Despicable Me, in which David Davis, Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson, play her minions. In other sketches, they also uphold these roles, although very rarely.

Nigel Farage also appears in trailers, for another new film called UKIP: Fully Loaded, a reference to the film Herbie: Fully Loaded, in which his “tampered” Volvo V70 plays Herbie, and the politician plays the role of Nigey Farton, referencing the character played by Lindsay Lohan in the film, Maggie Peyton.[6][7]

Transmissions
SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
115 April 201520 May 20156
23 September 20168 October 20166

Reception

Newzoids received mixed reviews, with those remarking it was “no Spitting Image, but a step in the right direction”.[8][9]

References
  1. "Factory".
  2. "@queensheltine Hey @queensheltine,it will be back later in the year, no dates yet but it will be advertised nearer the time". ITV on Twitter. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  3. "Newzoids returns for second series". ITV Press Centre. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  4. Powell, Emma (7 April 2015). "Newzoids: Katie Hopkins, Kim Kardashian and Benedict Cumberbatch among stars to be savaged in puppet satire". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  5. Cable, Simon (12 April 2015). "Jeremy Clarkson is set for a return to TV but it will certainly be something different". mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  6. Haroon Siddique (4 January 2016). "Have wheels fallen off Farage 'assassination plot' story?". theguardian.com. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  7. Staff and agencies (4 January 2016). "Farage's car was not among those recalled, says Volvo". theguardian.com. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  8. Heritage, Stuart (16 April 2015). "Newzoids review – no Spitting Image, but a step in the right direction". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  9. Andy McSmith (15 April 2015). "Newzoids, TV review: A forgettable start - but it was the same for Spitting Image". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
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