Why comedian Matt Forde loves doing the voice of Donald Trump for Spitting Image

The voice of Donald Trump in the new Spitting Image series said the US President “gives you a licence to say such daft things”.

Comedian Matt Forde, who also does Boris Johnson, said: “It’s funny to hear people who are in ultimate authority saying and doing such ludicrous things. It’s a joy.

“I really go for it and turn it up a dial to make both Trump and Boris even more ridiculous.”

A new version of Spitting Image will be broadcast on streaming channel Britbox, with the familiar puppets again made by Roger Law.

The first instalment in the Eighties on ITV ran to 18 series and made famous the puppets of Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Norman Tebbitt.

This time it’s a whole new suite of celebs and politicians, including one for Mr & Mrs Covid.      

Comedian Matt Forde said: “Everyone gets a good slap. In that respect, it’s a plague on every house.

“I’ve been impersonating Boris and Trump for years, and on the last two or three tours I’ve done they’ve been such a big part of it.” 

Forde said the show doesn’t pull any punchlines. 

“All the things that were present in the Spitting Image original live on. There’s the real harsh stuff, the grotesque caricatures, the slapstick and the silliness. 

“We hit left, right and centre, and some characters deservedly get hit over the head with a plank of wood.”

It’s arrival on TV is timely, he said. 

“If anything it’s well overdue. We could have done with Spitting image five years ago. We’ve got some catching up to do.”

Asked if he uses a picture of the politicians to inspire him, he said: “I have in my mind’s eye --- but no picture on the wall! You try to inhabit the caricature of it a bit. So even though I’m sat here in my spare room on an audio feed to the studio, I still move like Trump and pull the face, and doing the hands and things.” 

He added: “It’s just so much fun doing them because Trump and Boris both sound stupid. They’ve got ludicrous voices and speaking style. And it’s not beyond the realms that they would say stupid things.” 

He will ignore any negative views on Twitter. He said: “I won’t worry about it all. You can’t. I’m so battle-hardened having been on social media for the past 10 years. Whenever you’ve created something, you can’t create with a fear of what anonymous accounts on Twitter may or may not say about it. You have to be philosophical about it.” 

During the first series, celebrities said they were flattered to be imitated on the show. “They should shudder, not be flattered. People say they’re flattered but that’s what I think they think they have to say. They don’t want to look like a bad sport. The reality is that many people will

shudder at how they’re perceived.”

Spitting Image is now available on Britbox