David Steel

David Steel is one of the many exaggerated puppet parodies featured in the satirical sketch show Spitting Image. His overall sillyman-esque personality along with his memorable dynamic with David Owen made him one of the show's fan favourites, granting him a small Tumblr following in the mid-2010s.
== Basic Information ==
David Steel is a satirical version of the Liberal politician of the same name and was almost always seen with his Social Democratic Party partner also named David, who he would submissively follow along despite this jeopardising his party. The duo get into various mishaps such as meeting an alien while fishing and failing to propose a third-party system. Eventually, in the 1987 season, the two sadly break ties with a goodbye song. Afterwards, he did not appear as often due to being replaced with Paddy "in between" Ashdown, but had a prominent role as one of the three main protagonists of the Series 9 storyline Some of Our Puppets Are Missing.
The duo of the Two Davids remains as one of the most memorable sketches in the show's long runtime due to their funny and sometimes relatable and personal scenes, plus their "close" relationship of Steel being incredibly affectionate towards the uncaring Owen in a 1980s show also elevated them to being LGBTQ rep in some way.
== Archetypes ==
=== 4th Wall Blurring ===
He's one of the main protagonists of the storyline Some of Our Puppets Are Missing, in which he alongside Spock from Star Trek and an anteater named Anthony escape the show itself and go on misadventures in the real world while the show's creators attempt to capture them, although it's revealed that the whole storyline was simply within the show. During the story, he also occasionally talks to the audience as the creators' way of expressing their concerns/political views about how the country was run back then.
=== Artsy ===
Is skilled in singing and playing the piano.
=== Butt-Monkey/Goober ===
Incredibly incompetent with his plans for his party to become relevant and often getting into humiliating situations with his partner David. In the 1987 Election Special, they end up in the hospital after a failed publicity stunt, for example.
=== Cinnamon Roll ===
Is very optimistic, cheery and pure even in his worst moments that you can't help but want to cuddle him.
=== Creacher ===
Along with the real world storyline, Steel is shown in a previous sketch being forced to go the Spitting Image Melting Room as a result of his real world counterpart becoming irrelevant and begs to be included in the next sketch. This implies that the puppets we see are, behind the scenes in-universe, actual sentient latex bodies working for the producers.
=== Distinctive Voice ===
Possesses a squeaky British voice.
=== LGBTQ+ Coded ===
Every single scene with him and David Owen codes them as gay lovers, from sleeping in the same bed to Steel's questionable dialogue towards him such as “Oh, hurt me, David!”. A dom/sub dynamic is definitely felt here with Steel being tiny and and Owen towering over him.
=== Pathetic ===
Yeah.
=== Perpetual Smiler ===
His puppet sports a cheery smile on his face at all times, even when being humiliated.
=== Smol/Stubby ===
One of the smallest puppets in the show with equally small limbs. He's so small in fact that he can fit in Owen's pocket.
=== Theme Song ===
"Goodbye", sung along with David Owen.
=== Viont ===
His frequent attempts to seem like a threat to the larger parties with that squeaky voice of his definitely doesn't do him any favours. A notable sketch, in parody of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has him play the role as Mr. Steel, the evil half of Dr. Owen who looks and is incredibly harmless especially with that tiny jacket, awww!
=== Well-Dressed/Suitguy ===
Much like most of the politicians on the show he dons a fancy suit.
Category:Characters
Category:Sillyman
Category:Safe
Category:Spitting Image
Category:1984
Category:Artsy
Category:4th Wall Blurring
Category:Butt-Monkey
Category:Cinnamon Roll
Category:Suitguy
Category:Creacher
Category:Distinctive Voice
Category:Goober
Category:Viont
Category:LGBTQ+ Coded
Category:Pathetic
Category:Smol
Category:Perpetual Smiler
Category:Stubby
Category:Theme Song
Category:Well-Dressed
Category:Quotable Catchphrase(s)