StudioCanal, the production company behind the beloved Paddington films, has filed a lawsuit against Avalon, the producers of Spitting Image, after the satirical show portrayed the iconic bear as a drug-fuelled podcaster.
The dispute stems from an episode titled Spitting Image Presents: The Rest is Bulls!t*, released over the summer, in which Paddington Bear, known for his marmalade sandwiches and gentle manners, was reimagined as a foul-mouthed, cocaine-snorting podcast host.
StudioCanal, which owns the rights to the character created by Michael Bond, is suing Avalon in the UK High Court for alleged copyright and design right infringement. According to Deadline, the complaint raises concerns over how the parody used the Paddington likeness, though the full details of the claim have not yet been made public.
In the controversial sketch, Spitting Image cast Paddington as the co-host of a mock podcast with a caricature of Prince Harry, parodying the style of popular shows like The Rest Is Politics. The bear, voiced in the sketch with a gruff tone, bragged about his “healthcare routine” consisting of “100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine.”
At one point, the bear mocked his usual portrayal, saying, “I don’t really talk like Ben Whishaw,” before switching into a stereotypical accent and shouting, “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 Esco-bear. It is a joke. Laugh, muchachos.”
The sketch also featured spoofs of Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and UK Labor leader Keir Starmer. In one scene, the bear tells Musk, “You are too much genius for one planet. As I say about my cocaine, it is only right to share.” The episode ended with the bear snorting a white powder before collapsing, apparently unconscious.
Paddington Bear, first introduced in 1958, has long been a symbol of kindness and decency in British culture. The character’s family-friendly image, especially following the success of Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017), has made him one of the most cherished figures in children’s entertainment.
StudioCanal’s lawsuit accuses Avalon of tarnishing that reputation through what it views as a vulgar and unauthorised depiction. A representative for StudioCanal said the company is determined to “protect the integrity and legacy of Paddington Bear,” though no further public comment has been made.
Spitting Image, which first aired in 1984, became famous for its sharp political and celebrity satire, using exaggerated puppet caricatures to lampoon figures such as Margaret Thatcher, the Royal Family, and world leaders. The show was cancelled in 1996 due to declining viewership but was revived in 2020 on BritBox. After two seasons, it was cancelled again, only to re-emerge on YouTube this year with shorter 10–15 minute sketches.
