🔗 Share this article Courtroom Battle Breaks Out as Satirical Show Production Company Faces Legal Action Over Beloved Character Portrayal For millions who cherish Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed creation represents the very essence of English politeness and understatement – rendering this recent portrayal as a substance-using, potty-mouthed podcast host particularly controversial. However, the comedic reinterpretation of Paddington by the team behind Spitting Image has turned out to be too much for the production company and rights holders that own the intellectual property. Legal Proceedings Initiated Against Studio StudioCanal, responsible for the hit Paddington movies, are partnering with Bond's estate to take legal action against British production company Avalon, which produced Paddington's drastic reinterpretation. A legal filing, initially covered by industry media, cites copyright and design right issues. The court filing doesn't detail the specifics of the allegations, but it follows Paddington's appearance in the most recent Spitting Image YouTube program, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t. The show includes sketches about tech billionaires, former presidents and Keir Starmer. It also satirizes ubiquitous podcasts where hosts talk about reaching goals. Disputed Characterization Particulars The show is presented by a characteristic Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a unkempt Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington begins by proclaiming he doesn't actually talk like Ben Whishaw, the prize-earning actor who voices the character in latest movie adaptations. He then switches to a stereotypical 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 conclusion of the episode, a chaotic Paddington is seen snorting a white powder before seemingly losing consciousness. Background Information of Satirical Show The court action come three months after Avalon launched The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a poke at the popular collection of podcasts created by various media companies. The show's debut on YouTube in July marked a new chapter for Spitting Image, which has a rich history of upsetting its subjects – usually politicians, rather than treasured children's characters. Initial run was one of the popular programmes in the 1980s Ended only in 1996 after viewing figures declined Revived in 2020 for digital platform BritBox Continued for two series before being discontinued once more Platform Adaptation Its new incarnation on YouTube has been tailored for the platform. Episodes are between 10 and 15 minutes, designed to appeal to viewers who scroll through suggested videos. In the premiere episode, watched more than half a million times, Paddington and Harry speak with Musk, and Paddington encourages the conservative 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 key to his personal glow is "100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine." The pair also announce an commercial 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 declined to comment. A representative for Michael Bond's estate said they could not comment as the matter was the focus of court action. Avalon has been reached out to for comment.