A Spitting Image puppet of Margaret Thatcher, one of the most famous characters from the satirical series, has been put up for auction.

The former Conservative prime minister was a prominent target for the show, which ran for 18 series from 1984 to 1996.

Famous for lampooning political and cultural figures, Spitting Image also parodied public figures including John Major, Paul Gascoigne and the Queen, and portrayed Baroness Thatcher as a dominant and abusive leader.

:: Spitting Image archive moves to Cambridge University

Image: Other puppets up for auction include Robbie Coltrane...

Image: ...and Tom Hanks (right) and Boy George

Her puppet, alongside about 40 others from the show - including novelist Salman Rushdie, actor Tom Hanks, singer Boy George and Thatcher's husband, Denis - could now fetch thousands at auction after being acquired by collectors Prop Store.


Prop Store chief executive Stephen Lane said: "We're thrilled to be offering such a fantastic selection of puppets from the legendary British television series Spitting Image.

"Over 40 puppets and puppet heads are to be sold... including the iconic Margaret Thatcher puppet and many other famous faces, including Tom Hanks and Robbie Coltrane."

Image: Spitting Image's Salman Rushdie puppet is also up for auction

Spitting Image attracted huge viewing figures and won a BAFTA during its 12-year run on ITV.

Chris Barrie, best known for Red Dwarf and The Brittas Empire, and Alan Patridge creator Steve Coogan were among the talents to voice the puppets, with the likes of comedian and author Ben Elton, director Richard Curtis and Private Eye editor Ian Hislop among the writers for the show.

Baroness Thatcher's puppet is expected to sell for about £3,000, with the others expected to fetch between £400 and £800.

Image: The former Conservative prime minister was a prominent target for the show

Other puppets included in the auction, which starts on 14 February, are former US vice-president Dan Quayle, ex-chancellor Nigel Lawson, actor Coltrane, actress Tatum O'Neal and writer Alan Bennett.