‘Spitting Image: political satire in Britain in the 20th and 21st centuries’: AHRC Collections & Communities in the East of England Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CC-EE CDP) PhD Studentship Ref: 5850

Supervisors

Dr Meredith Hale, University of Exeter, Faculty of Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Dr Christopher Burgess, University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives

The University of Exeter (UoE) alongside University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives (CULA) are pleased to announce a fully-funded Collaborative doctoral studentship, from 1 October 2026, under the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme.

This project will be jointly supervised by Dr Meredith Hale (UoE) and Dr Christopher Burgess (CULA) in association with Dr Neil Ewen (UoE) and Kevin Roberts (CULA). The student will undertake research at both the Cambridge University Libraries and Archives and the University of Exeter, as well as becoming part of the wider cohort of CDP-funded students across the UK.

Eligibility headlines:

·       We encourage applications from a diverse range of people, from different backgrounds and career stages.

·       Students should have a Masters Degree in a relevant subject or demonstrate relevant equivalent experience.

·       The studentship is open to both home and international applicants.

·       The studentship can be studied either full or part-time.

·       Further details below in section ‘Eligibility’.

This research studentship is one allocated to CC-EE by the AHRC. The successful student will be expected to spend time carrying out research and gaining relevant experience with the project partners, Cambridge University Libraries and Archives.

Project Overview

Spitting Image (SI), co-created by Peter Fluck and Roger Law, radically reinvented Britain’s tradition of political satire for the television era with puppets caricaturing Britain’s political and cultural elite. When it first aired in February 1984, The Guardian argued that ‘nothing like it has been done on television before’ and The Daily Express described it as ‘in appallingly bad taste...vicious and sick’. It achieved widespread popularity, won BAFTA, Emmy, and Grammy awards, and ran for eighteen seasons on ITV (1984-1996), two seasons on Britbox (2020-21), and now features on Youtube.

‘Spitting Image: political satire in Britain in the 20th and 21st centuries’ will be the first in-depth analysis of one of the most important political satirical projects in modern Britain. It considers the nature, function, and reception of SI in a rapidly changing media environment and has been made possible by the donation of the unique and expansive Roger Law archive to CULA in 2018.

This project examines SI and its impact in two very different moments in Britain: first, its original run between 1984 and 1996, a period dominated by Thatcherism and the rise of New Labour; and, second, its reboots in 2020 and 2025 in what has become a distinctly more multicultural and media-saturated environment. At the heart of this project is an exploration of how the tropes and stereotypes inherent to political satire are formulated and received over time and how significant shifts in attitudes towards identity, race, gender and inequality have affected one of the most important genres in British visual history.

Aims and objectives of the project include: 1) undertaking the first in-depth analysis of one of the most important political-satirical projects in 20th and 21st century Britain; 2) making use of Roger Law's unique archive, the varied academic and object-based expertise of the supervisory team, and direct contact with SI creators to produce an original contribution to scholarship on political satire; 3) thoroughly examining a portion of the SI archive (of the student’s choosing) and producing both academic and public-facing material for CULA’s Digital Library; and 4) developing an innovative transdisciplinary approach that addresses the material and performative as well as the cultural, social and political aspects of the subject.

The following research questions provide a starting point for the student’s investigations; they will be free to choose their own focus based on their individual interests:

1) What does the archive reveal about the conception and production of SI?

2) How did the creators of SI engage with Britain’s tradition of political satire, from the ‘golden age’ of satire (18th and 19th century) to the satire boom of the 1960s? What is SI’s contribution to the history of political satire in Britain?

3) How did the conception and production of SI develop over its continuing life?

4) What impact has SI had on UK political and cultural discourse?

5) What role do subjects such as gender, class and race, play in the original and reboots? How has the reception of SI changed over time?

6) How has SI been adapted in its various international franchises (Russia, Portugal, South Africa, Nigeria) and how has its approach been received?

Benefits and Opportunities

This collaborative PhD studentship offers the opportunity to develop skills and experience for careers in the creative and cultural sectors as well as in higher education and academic research, supporting a pipeline of staff into the museum, library, archives, cultural and university sectors.  

As the CDP programme emphasises work-based skills, the four years of funding (up to eight years part-time) includes PhD research but also development activities including placements, as applicable to meet the successful student’s needs. At the outset of their PhDs, students will complete an individual training needs analysis and plan. This is a unique opportunity to gain a wide range of transferable professional skills, which may include: learning how to handle historical objects and archive material; developing skills in collections documentation and conservation; engaging in critical analysis of material and textual evidence; learning the techniques and ethics of oral interviewing; and engaging with academic and public audiences through participation in events, exhibitions and social media.

The Art History and Visual Culture (AHVC) research environment at Exeter is a vibrant, interdisciplinary hub focused on the role of images and objects in past and present contexts. Based within the Department of Languages, Cultures and Visual Studies (LCVS), we promote a collaborative culture that brings together staff and postgraduate students for seminars, visiting speaker series, and work-in-progress sessions. Our twice monthly postgraduate seminar series offers opportunities for students to prepare for the 'upgrade' viva (from MPhil to PhD), practice delivering conference papers, and invite external speakers who are important for their areas of research. Postgraduate researchers work within a supportive, productive environment that includes strong supervision and a comprehensive research training programme. We have significant external partnerships in the creative industries, heritage sector, and policy sphere and we bring the wealth of these external partnerships to the postgraduate experience.

Cambridge University Library is one of the world’s oldest university libraries – with over 10 million physical collection items. CULA’s Special Collections comprise one of the great collections of global documentary cultural heritage collected over six centuries and spanning some four thousand years of recorded thought. The student will become part of Cambridge University Library's Research Institute, a vibrant, inclusive community of researchers and practitioners at all career stages working together to make a difference to culture and society. There are already three CDP doctoral students working within the Research Institute. Library staff can also introduce the CDP student into wider Cambridge research networks including those working on 20th century British history. 

The successful candidate will be encouraged to participate in professional development events and activities organised for all Collaborative Doctoral Partnership students who are registered with different universities studying with cultural heritage organisations across the UK. These activities are organised by a coordination team based at the V&A and are designed to provide CDP researchers with the knowledge, networks and skills to thrive in their future careers.

Details of Award

CDP doctoral training grants fund full-time studentships for four years or up to eight years if studied part-time (0.5 FTE). This time period will include development activities and relevant work experience, placements or internships.

The award pays tuition fees up to the value of the full-time home UKRI rate for PhD degrees. The Research Councils UK Indicative Fee Level for 2026/2027 is £5,238. 

The award pays full maintenance for all students, both home and international students. The UKRI National Minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2026/2027 is £21,805. This stipend is tax free, and is the equivalent of an annual salary, enabling the student to pay living costs.

The successful candidate will also have access to a Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG) of £750 per year (pro-rata for part-time students). This can be used to support study visits, conference attendance, and other training and development opportunities which are necessary for the student’s primary research. In addition, the award provides a CDP maintenance payment of £600 per year supporting any additional costs students incur whilst undertaking a collaborative award.

Further details can be found on the UKRI website.

The student is eligible to receive an additional travel and related expenses grant during the course of the project courtesy of Cambridge University Library, worth up to £2,000 per year for 4 years, or pro rata for part-time students.

The fee difference between the home and international fee rates will be covered by the University of Exeter. If you are an international student, please be aware that there may be additional fees for which you are responsible (e.g. UK student visa, Immigration Health Surcharge). More details can be found here: Cost of studying in the UK. For all enquiries contact the University of Exeter PGR administrator (details at the end of document).

There is no fee for applying for this studentship.

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship. DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty. You can read more about DSA: https://www.ukri.org/publications/disabled-students-allowance-dsa-framework/

Eligibility

This studentship is open to both Home and International applicants.

To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

·       Be a UK or Irish National (meeting residency requirements),

·       or Have settled status,

·       or Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements),

·       or Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

The latest revision of the AHRC Training Grant Funding Guide is available here.

We want to encourage the widest range of potential students to study for a CDP studentship and are committed to welcoming students from different backgrounds to apply. We are keen to hear from individuals with varied expertise who can bring unique perspectives to the studentships. Experiences beyond academia, including experience in a professional setting, are also highly valued; this includes diverse lived experiences and those with an understanding of diverse research practices, outputs, impacts and engagement practice. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply, even if you are not certain that you meet every criterion. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from Global Majority backgrounds as they are currently underrepresented at this level in this area.

We are looking for applicants with passion, dedication and enthusiasm for the topic of the studentship, and potential and enthusiasm for developing skills in the archives, library, museums and heritage sector, as well as in higher education and academic research.

As a collaborative award, students will be expected to spend time at both the University of Exeter (UoE) and the University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives (CULA).

All applicants must meet UKRI terms and conditions for funding. See: https://www.ukri.org/funding/information-for-award-holders/grant-terms-and-conditions/

Informal Enquiries and Contacts

Applicants are strongly encouraged to sign up for the information session about this project on 22 April, which will also be available as a recording after the session.

• Primary HEI Supervisor: Dr Meredith Hale, University of Exeter, m.m.hale@exeter.ac.uk
• Primary Collections Supervisor: Dr Christopher Burgess, University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives, cpb63@cam.ac.uk 

Please contact the PhD administrator if you have any questions or concerns about the application or interview process:

• University of Exeter, Postgraduate admissions: pgrapplicants@exeter.ac.uk
• If you would like to speak with active CDP students to ask questions regarding student experience as part of the CDP scheme, please contact Sarah Villis at cc-ee@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

All CDP projects are part of a nationwide programme called the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership consortium. The CDP consortium will host an online webinar for prospective applicants on 13 April 2026 at 11:00. These webinars will provide an overview of the CDP funding scheme.

To sign up for a webinar, please email cdp@vam.ac.uk with the subject line “Prospective Applicant Webinar” from the email address you would like to join the online meeting from. Sign up will close on 10 April 2026 at 17:00.

Please note, the webinars will not focus on individual projects.

A specific information session on this project will be held online on 22 April 2026, 12:30 – 1:30pm. Register here to attend. This session will also be recorded.

Entry requirements

Applicants for the CDP studentship should ideally have or expect to receive a relevant Masters-level qualification, with a first-class/distinction result (or non-UK equivalent), or be able to demonstrate equivalent research experience in a professional setting. Suitable disciplines are flexible, but might include Art History & Visual Culture, History, Political Science and Media Studies. Equivalent experience might include but is not restricted to: a strong track record of employment in a library, museum or heritage institution, which could include responsibility for relevant archival research, collections curation and/or public engagement activity.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

Please note that these studentships are only open to applicants who will start their study in September 2026, not those who have already started.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. You will be asked to submit the following by 12:00 (Noon) GMT Tuesday 26th May 2026:  

·       A covering letter (up to 4 sides, A4, font size 12) outlining your academic interests, prior research experience, reasons for wishing to undertake this project and areas of individual interest you might like to pursue

·       A full CV

·       A sample of written work (no longer than 5,000 words)

·       Proof of academic track record (transcripts/certificates)

·       Two references, at least one to be an academic reference

·       Proof of your English language proficiency, if relevant

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5850 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Reference information
It is your responsibility to ensure that your referees email their references to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk, as we will not make requests for references directly; you must arrange for them to be submitted by 26 May 2026.  Please note that applications with missing documentation will not progress to shortlisting.

References should be in the form of a letter. Referees must email their references to us from their institutional email accounts. We cannot accept references from personal/private email accounts, unless it is a scanned document on institutional headed paper and signed by the referee.

Interviews will be held remotely on Thursday 11 June 2026.

Please let us know if you require any adjustments for the application process or interview. Support or adjustments may include, but are not limited to:

• Opportunity to speak with project supervisors at HEI and CDP Award Holder about the project and the process.
• Opportunity to speak with contacts within the HEI and/or CDP Award Holder regarding institutional support systems (e.g. neurodiversity, racial diversity and LGBTQIA+ networks, mental health support, support for carers).
• Insight into the interview process (e.g. selection criteria used).
• Opportunity to speak with active CDP students to ask questions regarding student experience as part of the CDP scheme.

Your application will not be adversely affected by disclosing a disability, and it will be processed in exactly the same way as any other application.

We will send interview questions in advance to all candidates who are invited to interview.

We ask all applicants to complete a voluntary EDI monitoring form here. All responses are anonymous.

Summary