Theatre-goers can expect “the biggest cast of celebrities ever assembled”, according to comedian Al Murray – one of the writers and voices for the stage version of Spitting Image that’s opening in the West End.

“There’s 105 people in this show… It’s the biggest cast of celebrities ever assembled on any stage,” Murray told Sky News.

“This is just such an extraordinary project to be involved in… how people react to the puppets on stage is a brilliant thing.”

In its 1980s prime, 15 million viewers used to watch the satirical puppet show – which originally ran for 18 series.

Resurrected by ITV in recent years, the stage version of Spitting Image has proven hugely popular on its regional run in Birmingham and will now open in London in May.

The script centres around Tom Cruise’s attempts to save humanity.

Tasked by the King to create the UK’s own ‘Magnificent Seven’ of celebrity misfits – including Greta Thunberg, Meghan Markle and Angela Rayner, it features puppet cameos from Ant & Dec, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin and Boris Johnson.

“It’s this thing of seeing these famous people in grotesque,” Murray explains, “a sort of amplified version of them kind of saying the things you really want to hear them saying – that’s what’s exciting.

“We’re working in the world of grotesquerie, so you can’t hold back… any sense that we’re treading on ice I think would undercut the show.”

The show’s fellow writer, comedian Matt Forde, believes there is a “huge appetite” for seeing powerful people “lampooned and mocked”.

“I think there’s something really cathartic about living in a country where you can just openly say ‘this guy looks and sounds like an idiot and we’re going to smack him around the face with a plank of wood’… basically it’s a high end Punch and Judy show.”

But in the age of online outrage, where we are perhaps more mindful about not focusing on physical flaws, is the show still able to be as savage?

Forde says: “People want us to go way, way further… so there are parts of the show that we have made even more outrageous because the public – well, it’s like the Coliseum – people just want to see blood… and we’re going to give it to them!”

While Boris Johnson might feature in the show, ironically for him – between the partygate committee hearing and the COVID inquiry – this could be the least controversial of his appearances.

Forde says the ex-PM and Tom Cruise are “more than welcome” to come and see the show – “if they’re prepared to pay for a ticket”.

Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical will run from 24 May to 26 August at the Phoenix Theatre in London.

TikTok’s chief executive has sought to reassure US Congress that the Chinese-owned video app is not “an agent” of Beijing and poses no risk to national security.

Shou Zi Chew faced hours of tough questioning by deputies in the House of Representatives convinced that the popular app is a “tool” of the Chinese Communist Party.

Some have also raised concerns that TikTok, which has 150 million American users, carries content that can harm children’s mental health.

The deputies on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce pressed Mr Chew on various topics – ranging from TikTok’s content moderation practices to the company’s spying on journalists.

Watch live: TikTok chief executive questioned by US Congress

“Mr Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security,” said the committee’s chair, Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

“TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for more control, more surveillance and more manipulation.”

Mr Chew insisted its parent company ByteDance prioritises the safety of its young users – and denied claims that the app is a national security risk.

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“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” he said.

He reiterated the company’s plan to protect US user data by storing information on servers maintained and owned by server giant Oracle.

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Many deputies on the committee found some of Mr Chew’s answers evasive – with one of them, Tony Cardenas, saying the chief executive was a “good dancer with words”.

Increasing pressure and bans

TikTok has been under increasing scrutiny over its security and data privacy, with concerns it could be used to promote pro-Beijing views or gather user data – something TikTok strongly denies.

In the UK, the app will be blocked from parliament’s devices and network.

The EU Commission and more than half of US states and Congress have already introduced a ban on staff phones over concerns around potential cyber attacks, with the UK government following suit last week.

China said it would oppose any US attempts to force ByteDance to sell the app.

TikTok’s chief executive appears before Congress, where politicians will ask Shou Zi Chew about data privacy and security while concern increases around the social media app.

TikTok will be blocked from parliament’s devices and network in the latest ban imposed on the Chinese-owned social media app.

The commissions of the House of Commons and House of Lords have announced they will follow the move taken by the government on official devices, citing the need for cyber security.

A parliament spokesman said that TikTok “will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network”.

Watch live: TikTok chief executive questioned by US Congress

“Cyber security is a top priority for parliament, however we do not comment on specific details of our cyber or physical security controls, policies or incidents,” he said.

TikTok can still be used on personal devices while on the parliamentary estate, provided the devices aren’t connected to parliament’s WiFI network.

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith welcomed the move, but called for the ban to be extended on the personal devices of ministers.

He tweeted: “The decision to block TikTok from ALL parliamentary devices is welcome, a good decision.

“Given this robust position in parliament following the ban of TikTok from govt phones, it’s now time that TikTok is also banned from ministers personal telephones.”

A similar decision has also been taken in Scotland, with TikTok banned from government phones and other devices.

Deputy first minister John Swinney added: “Currently there is limited use of TikTok within government and limited need for staff to use the app on work devices.

“This ban will be implemented immediately. It does not extend to personal devices used by staff or the general public.”

TikTok: Ban ‘misguided and based on misconceptions’

But TikTok called parliament’s move “misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions about our company”.

“TikTok is enjoyed by millions of people in the UK, and potentially depriving users from access to and engagement with their representatives is a self-defeating step, especially in our shared fight against misinformation,” a spokesman said.

“We are disappointed that, despite our requests, we have not been offered any opportunity to address concerns and only ask to be judged on facts and treated equally to our competitors.

“We have begun implementing a comprehensive plan to further protect our European user data, which includes storing UK user data in our European data centres and tightening data access controls, including third-party independent oversight of our approach.”

It comes as the TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew said the company had been “unfairly singled out” as he faced questions on data and security at the US Congressional committee.

Click to subscribe to Beth Rigby Interviews… wherever you get your podcasts

The video-sharing app has been under increasing scrutiny over its security and data privacy, with concerns it could be used to promote pro-Beijing views or gather user data – something TikTok strongly denies.

The EU Commission and more than half of US states and Congress have already introduced a ban on staff phones over concerns around potential cyber attacks, with the UK government following suit last week.

Beijing reacted angrily to Downing Street’s decision, saying the move is “based on its political motive rather than facts” and will “ultimately harm the UK’s own interests”.

TikTok has said the bans have “been based on fundamental misconceptions and driven by wider geopolitics, in which TikTok, and our millions of users in the UK, play no part”.

Accenture is to cut 19,000 jobs worldwide – including in the UK – after lowering its annual revenue and profit forecasts.

The US-owned consultancy said the figure represented about 2.5% of its 738,000-strong workforce.

Accenture confirmed staff in the UK would be affected, but did not provide further details.

But it said more than half of the losses globally will come from its human resources, IT, finance and marketing departments over the next 18 months.

The company employs around 11,000 workers nationwide, including in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Leeds.

The firm previously announced it was cutting between 700 and 900 jobs in the UK back in 2020, as it blamed “additional strain” on the business caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Accenture’s announcement came as it also lowered its annual forecasts, with it now predicting revenue growth to be between 8% and 10%, compared with its previous projection of an 8% to 11% increase.

The firm further expects to cough up $1.2bn (£0.97bn) in severance costs.

But it hopes to save around $1.5bn (£1.2bn) by closing offices globally.

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It is the latest in a string of job losses in the corporate and tech sectors following a fall in demand amid high inflation and rising interest rates, with Amazon, Facebook owner Meta, and Just Eat among those recently announcing cuts.

An Accenture spokesperson said: “While we continue to hire, especially to support our strategic growth priorities, during the second quarter of fiscal 2023, we initiated actions to streamline our operations and transform our non-billable corporate functions to reduce costs.

“Over the next 18 months, these actions are expected to result in the departure of approximately 19,000 people (or 2.5% of our current workforce).”

An off-duty pilot has stepped in to help land a plane after its captain became ill on a flight bound for Columbus, Ohio.

Southwest Flight 6013 was forced to return to Las Vegas on Wednesday as urgent medical attention was required for the original pilot, who was “incapacitated”.

Luckily, a passenger was well-placed to help the crew.

The off-duty pilot from another airline jumped in to help with radio communication, while the other Southwest pilot took over the controls.

In radio archive recordings, the co-pilot is heard saying: “The captain became incapacitated while en route.

“He’s in the back of the aircraft right now with a flight attendant.

“But we need to get him on an ambulance immediately.”

Southwest Airlines thanked the off-duty pilot who stepped up to help.

A spokesperson said: “We greatly appreciate their support and assistance.”

“We commend the crew for their professionalism and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding regarding the situation,” the spokesperson added.

Read more on Sky News:
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the flight returned to Las Vegas and landed “without incident”.

The plane was able to land safely and an alternate crew were able to take over and operate the flight to Columbus.

The condition of the pilot who required medical attention has not yet been made clear.