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Newzoids sounded like a disaster on paper, but was a pleasant surprise by comparison.
Anyone who was around in the ’80s will remember Spitting Image, where the politicians and celebs of the day were lampooned with latex puppets. It lost it towards the end, in the early ’90s, partly due to the fact that there just weren’t the big figures of the day that there used to be. Newzoids shows that it’s good to rest these things from time to time and is a format that is simplistic, but one which really works.
The highlight was Ant and Dec putting Labour leader Ed Miliband (right) through an I’m A Celebrity-style challenge, referencing the old bacon sandwich photo – getting him to eat one properly this time, but also pointing out how he doesn’t know which way to turn, politically, and how he won’t be around for long if he doesn’t get to No.10.
Other highlights include newly-married couple Andy Murray and Kim Sears; a singalong from SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, and their previous leader, Alex Salmond; Gogglebox with the Royal Family; Prince George, again with the Royals; Britain’s Got Talent‘s talking dog; David Cameron and Nick Clegg debating the coalition on The Jeremy Kyle Show; Lewis Hamilton spraying champagne in the face of a woman; Mel and Sue meets the Supervet, pointing out how an old woman’s dog has died, whilst making double entendres aplenty; plus a song from Gary Barlow about his (sadly, legal) tax dodging.
Okay was Kim Jong Un with “The Un Show” (The One Show), while less good were the Top Gear auditions, including one from Jeremy Clarkson reapplying for his own job, but overall, while I thought initially that it would be a terrible idea, Newzoids is far more hit than miss and I really enjoyed it. A good, overdue successor to Spitting Image.
Note that I won’t be reviewing every episode of this series, as it’s a sketch show based on the week’s events, but the outlook based on this episode is very good.
Newzoids continues next Wednesday on ITV at 9.00pm.
Overall Score: 7/10
Performers: Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson, Lewis Macleod, Simon Greenall, Jon Clegg, Jess Robinson
Directors: Dominic Brigstocke, George Kane
Producer: Bethan Gorman
Series Producer: Giles Pilbrow
Sound: Fitzrovia Post
Music: Richie Webb, Matt Katz
Writers: Pete Sinclair, Madeleine Brettingham, Carey Marx, Sarah Morgan, Colin Swash, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, George Jeffrie, Bert Tyler Moore, Tom Jamieson, Nev Fountain, Dan Gaster, Jason Hazeley, Joel Morris, Wrenfoe, Andrew Hunter Murray, Tom Neenan
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.