Become a Member
TV

Meet Spitting Image's new first lady

Jess Robinson is the puppet show's voice of celebrities from Gwyneth to Greta

October 1, 2020 10:27
3 - JessRobinson (606_HighRes) _ credit - Karla Gowlett-a

By

Nicole Lampert,

Nicole Lampert

4 min read

Jess Robinson’s first impersonations were of her German grandmother, Rosi, who came over to England on the final Kindertransport in 1939. She loved to imitate the guttural way her grandmother spoke, never imagining that one day that particular impersonation would be the backbone of her own version of a German leader.

Angela Merkel jostles with Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ivanka and Melania Trump, Greta Thunberg, Adele and Taylor Swift as part of Robinson’s repertoire on the much-anticipated reboot of outrageous satirical puppet show Spitting Image, which kicks off tomorrow.

“I can’t wait for everyone to see it,” says Jess, 35, who recorded her voiceovers from a studio in the Hove home she shares with singer husband Jonty Fisher. “The puppets are brilliant and the scripts are hysterical.

“I’ve loved really looking at these incredible women who become part of you when you imitate them. I spend so much time watching YouTube, Netflix and downloading their podcasts that I end up feeling very fond of them — even Kim and Melania. They begin to feel like odd friends who live in my head and come out of my mouth.”