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Newzoids
GenreComedy
Satire
Voices of
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No.of series2
No.of episodes12
Production
Running time30 minutes (inc. adverts)
Original release
NetworkITV
Release15 April 2015(2015-04-15)–
8 October 2016(2016-10-08)
Related
Spitting Image
2DTV
Headcases
Dead Ringers

Newzoidsis a British topical satiricalsketch show,which was co-produced by Citrus Television and Factory forITVand broadcast for two series between 15 April 2015 and 8 October 2016.[1][2][3]

The programme operated in a similar format toSpitting Image,[4][5]in its use of puppets and comedic impersonations of celebrities across different fields, such as politics and entertainment, and in basing sketches on current events. However, it differed in that each puppet featured no moveable eyes or mouths, as these were applied with the use ofCGIduring editing.

Newzoidsfeatured the voice actorsJon Culshaw,Debra StephensonandLewis MacLeod,all from theBBC Radio 4comedyDead Ringers,and featured satirical appearances byNigel Farage,Boris Johnson,Jeremy ClarksonandPrince George of Cambridge.

The first series aired during the2015 United Kingdom general electionand spoofed the politicians involved.[6]

Characters

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All the celebrities featured in the show are portrayed through the mixed use of live-action puppets andcomputer-generated imageryeffects; the puppets are filmed first, with the footage later enhanced with computer-generated eyes, eyebrows and mouths. The depictions are caricatures. one eye of the-thenUK Independence PartyleaderNigel Farage’s puppet occasionally swivels around,Donald Trump's hair is represented as a cat on his head, andPrince George of Cambridgeis depicted with a strongCockneyaccent, Boss ing about his younger sister,Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.[4][5]George's catchphrase is “oi oisaveloy”,which loosely references the Cockneyfootball chant.

Theresa Mayappears in trailers for a new film calledDespicable May(a reference to the animated filmDespicable Me), in whichDavid Davis,Philip HammondandBoris Johnsonplay herminions.They also very occasionally feature as minions in other sketches.

Nigel Farage also appears in trailers for another new film, calledUKIP: Fully Loaded(a reference to the filmHerbie: Fully Loaded), in which his “tampered”Volvo V70playsHerbieand the politician plays the role of Nigey Farton (referencing the Maggie Peyton character played byLindsay Lohanin the Herbie film).[7][8]

Another new film which is promoted isPretty Brexiteer(a reference to the filmPretty Woman), in which Farage plays the role of Nigen Ward (referencing the Vivian Ward character played byJulia RobertsinPretty Woman).[9][10]The film that is promoted the least isRunaway Tory(a reference to the filmRunaway Bride), in which Farage plays the role of Nigey Carpenter (referencing the character of Maggie Carpenter, played by Julia Roberts in the film).[11][12]

Transmissions

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Series Start date End date Episodes
1 15 April 2015 20 May 2015 6
2 3 September 2016 8 October 2016 6

Reception

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Newzoidsreceived mixed reviews. Most professional reviewers compared the show negatively toSpitting Image,but it was better received on social media.[13]Tending towards the positive,The Guardianwrote that it was "noSpitting Image,but a step in the right direction ", lauding the show's" sparkiness "but adding" its lack of depth feels like a wasted opportunity "in comparison toSpitting Image.[14]The Telegraphwrote thatNewzoidshad "flashes of promise" and that the showbusiness takedowns in particular "really connected", but commented that the show often "swung at easy targets".[15]

In a more negative review,The Independentmentioned howNewzoidsandSpitting Imageboth had shaky, unfunny starts, but that "the puppets (ofNewzoids) are not intrinsically funny ", remarking" Oh dear! ".[16]VICEpannedNewzoids,and said that "it was absolutely untenable. It was lazily, beguilingly shit, each gag so obvious you'd already written the punchline in your head before it was delivered.", asking "how was this allowed to be made?".[17]

Idris Elba,whose puppet was featured in aLuthersketch, reacted positively to his appearance on the show, posting a video on Twitter of him laughing behind the camera as the scene plays on TV, with a caption oflaughing emojis.[18]

References

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  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 onTwitter.22 March 2016.Retrieved8 August2016.
  3. ^"Newzoids returns for second series".ITV Press Centre. 9 May 2016.Retrieved8 August2016.
  4. ^abPowell, Emma (7 April 2015)."Newzoids: Katie Hopkins, Kim Kardashian and Benedict Cumberbatch among stars to be savaged in puppet satire".Evening Standard.London.Retrieved13 April2015.
  5. ^abCable, Simon (12 April 2015)."Jeremy Clarkson is set for a return to TV but it will certainly be something different".mirror.co.uk.Retrieved14 April2015.
  6. ^Godwin, Richard (9 April 2015)."Pulling strings: meet the puppet masters behind Newzoids".Evening Standard.Retrieved30 May2024.
  7. ^Haroon Siddique (4 January 2016)."Have wheels fallen off Farage 'assassination plot' story?".The Guardian.Retrieved9 December2020.
  8. ^Staff and agencies (4 January 2016)."Farage's car was not among those recalled, says Volvo".The Guardian.Retrieved9 December2020.
  9. ^Decca Aitkenhead (20 May 2016)."Nigel Farage: 'They say I'm toxic. Quite the opposite'".The Guardian.Retrieved2 April2021.
  10. ^Paul Armstrong (15 July 2016)."Nigel Farage: Arch-eurosceptic and Brexit 'puppet master'".edition.cnn.Retrieved2 April2021.
  11. ^BBC Staff (2 May 2015)."Election 2015: Nigel Farage 'wrong' on Labour's EU stance".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved3 April2021.
  12. ^Ben Quinn (8 May 2015)."Nigel Farage resigns as Ukip leader after failure to win Westminster seat".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved3 April2021.
  13. ^Millis, Joe (15 April 2015)."ITV's new satire Newzoids gets mixed reviews after first showing".International Business Times UK.Retrieved23 August2022.
  14. ^Heritage, Stuart (16 April 2015)."Newzoids review – no Spitting Image, but a step in the right direction".The Guardian.Retrieved16 April2015.
  15. ^Power, Ed (15 April 2015)."Newzoids, ITV, review: Not quite funny enough".The Telegraph.Retrieved23 August2022.
  16. ^Andy McSmith (15 April 2015)."Newzoids, TV review: A forgettable start - but it was the same for Spitting Image".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 18 June 2022.Retrieved15 April2015.
  17. ^Bish, Joe (16 April 2015)."ITV's 'Newzoids' Did A Distressingly Bad Job At Satirising Modern Britain".VICE.Retrieved23 August2022.
  18. ^Harrison, Ellie (20 September 2016)."Idris Elba really loved his Newzoids character".Radio Times.Retrieved23 August2022.
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