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Piers Morgan reacts to his 'Spitting Image' puppet: 'It bears no relation to me!'

Watch: Piers Morgan claps eyes on his Spitting Image puppet for the first time

Piers Morgan has insisted his new Spitting Image puppet “bears no relation to me whatsoever” as it was unveiled on Good Morning Britain.

The TV presenter and former tabloid journalist admitted he had always wanted to have his own puppet on the 1980s political satire show, which has been rebooted for streaming service BritBox.

Morgan, 55, said: “I’ve waited all my adult life to have Spitting Image do a puppet of me, and then I got sent the image and I was like, ‘You know what, I could have waited another 40 years for this.’

“As you can see, it bears no relation to me whatsoever!”

Read more: Gwyneth Paltrow, Ed Sheeran and Billie Eilish sent up in new 'Spitting Image' trailer

He complained the puppet had too many chins and added: “I’ve always love Spitting Image, I’ve always craved having my own puppet. So I’m torn between utter revulsion at this grotesque portrayal and my ego being massively pumped by just being on the show.”

Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain. (ITV)
Piers Morgan has mixed feelings about his 'Spitting Image' puppet. (ITV)

Fellow ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly laughed: “His wee mouth looks like a cat’s bottom!”

Spitting Image is launching on Saturday, 3 October, with the new series featuring puppets of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, along with celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian, Ed Sheeran and former royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Watch: The Spitting Image reboot trailer

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, 17, has also been given the Spitting Image, which has led to criticism against the show for lampooning a teenager who is on the autistic spectrum and has spoken openly about her battles with mental health.

Read more: Spitting Image creator says programme won't just be ridiculing right-wing figures

BritBox bosses have defended putting Thunberg in the show, revealing she will be portrayed as a weathergirl, giving updates on global warming.

Greta Thunberg will be portrayed as a weather girl in 'Spitting Image. (ITV)
Greta Thunberg will be portrayed as a weather girl in 'Spitting Image. (ITV)

Reemah Sakaan, group director of SVoD at ITV, told the Broadcasting Press Guild: “It’s a very straightforward joke and is nothing to do with her as an individual.”

She added: “If the show isn't stirring controversy it’s probably not doing what it set out to do, or being true to its origins.”

The original Spitting Image ran from 1984 to 1996 on ITV and featured puppets of everyone from the Queen Mother to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

The past 10 series of the comedy show will also become available on BritBox to coincide with the launch of the reboot.

Watch: Piers Morgan says he couldn’t be prouder to work for ITV...