StudioCanal Sues Over Paddington Parody in Spitting Image

StudioCanal and Michael Bond’s estate have sued Avalon, producer of Spitting Image, filing a High Court complaint in the UK alleging copyright and design-right infringement over a sketch titled "The Rest Is Bulls*!t." The sketch portrayed Paddington Bear as a foul-mouthed, cocaine-using podcast host co-hosting with a puppet Prince Harry and included explicit jokes — boasting "100% Peruvian… catastrophic cocaine," a "Pablo Escobear" gag, an interview with Elon Musk, and an ending where the bear appears to snort white powder. The claimants, represented by law firm Edwin Coe, say the depiction disrespects the beloved children’s character; the filing does not yet set out full particulars. The July sketch has been widely viewed — more than half a million views for the sketch itself, over 10 million on YouTube and about 60 million across other social platforms. The dispute, which contrasts with Spitting Image’s long history of sharp political and celebrity satire, is progressing through the courts.