🔗 Share this article Courtroom Dispute Erupts as Satirical Show Production Company Confronts Lawsuit Over Beloved Character Portrayal Among millions who cherish Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed character epitomizes the quintessence of English politeness and understatement – making this new portrayal as a substance-using, foul-mouthed podcast host especially controversial. However, the comedic reinterpretation of Paddington by the team behind Spitting Image has turned out to be excessive for the film studio and rights holders that control the intellectual property. Court Action Launched Against Studio The film producers, behind the hit Paddington movies, are joining forces with Bond's estate to sue British production company Avalon, which created Paddington's radical reimagining. A high court complaint, first reported by industry media, cites intellectual property and design right concerns. The legal document omits the specifics of the claim, but it follows Paddington's inclusion in the most recent Spitting Image YouTube show, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t. The show features segments about Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Keir Starmer. It also parodies ubiquitous podcasts where hosts talk about reaching goals. Disputed Characterization Particulars The program is presented by a characteristic Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a dishevelled-looking Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington starts by proclaiming he doesn't actually talk like Ben Whishaw, the award-winning actor who voices the character in recent movie versions. He then changes to a generic South American accent before exclaiming: "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 Escobear. It is a joke. Laugh, muchachos." At the end of the episode, a chaotic Paddington is shown inhaling a white powder before apparently passing out. Historical Context of Satirical Show The legal proceedings come three months after Avalon premiered The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a poke at the popular stable of podcasts produced by multiple media companies. The show's launch on YouTube in July signaled a new chapter for Spitting Image, which has a long tradition of upsetting its subjects – typically politicians, rather than treasured children's characters. Original series was one of the popular programmes in the 1980s Cancelled only in 1996 after ratings waned Rebooted in 2020 for digital platform BritBox Lasted two series before being discontinued once more Platform Adaptation Its latest version on YouTube has been adapted for the platform. Shows are between 10 and 15 minutes, designed to attract viewers who browse suggested videos. In the first show, watched more than half a million times, Paddington and Harry interview Musk, and Paddington urges the rightwing billionaire to go to Mars. "You are excessively genius for one planet," he says. "As I say about my cocaine, it is only right to share." He subsequently says the secret to his personal glow is "100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine." The pair also announce an advert for guns. Paddington says: "Go to Bogotá and ask for Matthias. Tell him Paddington sent you." The bear begins another section by observing: "And that's why I said 'no' to Harry Potter. Paddington Bear gets out his wand for no one." Official Responses StudioCanal refused to comment. A representative for Michael Bond's estate said they could not comment as the matter was the focus of legal proceedings. Avalon has been contacted for response.