John (below) with (top row, left to right) Steve Nallon, Simon Buckley, and Nigel Plaskitt.
The late John Thirtle (August 25, 1948 - June 5, 1995)[1] was a British puppeteer known for co-creating the company Playboard Puppets with puppeteer and partner Ian Allen. The company was behind the long-running children's series Button Moon and The Spooks of Bottle Bay.
John puppeteered on Spitting Image and was a main puppeteer from around 1988 to his death.