Blog by Councillor Kay Morrison

HAVE you seen the ‘Spitting Image’ depiction of Paddington? Paddington, of all bears!

He’s our lovable woolly friend, charming, courteous, clumsy and so well-meaning. Getting into scrapes because he wants to help. Always with warm-hearted intention, always adorable. Courageous and intrepid. Thoughtful and loving, remembering to write to Aunt Lucy who’s still in Peru. Will she be allowed to move here? 

Paddington arrived by train, somehow, without a fixed destination or connection. He seemed to hope for a decent future here with a home and maybe even friends. He was lucky, wasn’t he? He was adopted by the Browns; his marmalade sandwiches, hat and duffle coat have helped us all to love him. 

Michael Bond was inspired by a lovely teddy bear displayed in a London shop. He also remembered seeing film of World War II child evacuees leaving London, clutching tiny suitcases, with labels around their necks. He gave Paddington a label, too.

Paddington’s part of our culture; he’s almost sanctified, especially after taking tea with the late Queen Elizabeth with whom he shared that marmalade sandwich moment.   So is it OK to make fun of a national icon? The ‘Spitting Image’ version is sweary, disrespectful, cocaine-snorting but it’s his bloodshot eyes that are really wild. They look untethered. Those are scary eyes. Apparently StudioCanal is taking legal action against ‘Spitting Image’, referring to copyright issues.

In the programme, the bear puppet declares his intention to make a lot of money because he doesn’t have ‘any discernible talent.’ That is quite funny. Slightly disturbing but funny. We can think of plenty of famous people who don’t have any discernible talent. ‘Spitting Image’ has built a reputation through humour and satire skewering the pompous and ridiculous. Remember the depictions of Norman Tebbit, Prince Philip, John Major? Now we have versions of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to chortle at. We need more of this stuff.

I don’t think we’re in danger of wrecking Paddington’s reputation. It’s invincible, enshrined in our traditions. Don’t let him watch the programme, though: remember the label around the little immigrant’s neck. ‘Please look after this bear.’