Saturday Night Live: UK was always facing an uphill battle in rebooting one of the most iconic American comedy shows of all time for a demographic that are less than interested in the original series.
Despite this though the TV show has received predominantly positive reviews after its first episode released Saturday, 21 March.
One of the many people who appear to have enjoyed the first episode of the SNL UK spin-off however looks to be United States President Donald Trump who shared the opening sketch on his Truth Social account.
Trump shared a sketch which mocks Keir Starmer, played by comedian George Fouracres who plays Starmer as weak and terrified of the US President.
The parody shows Starmer being terrified of an incoming call from Trump after the UK’s refusal to join in on any operations to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
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Starmer in the sketch is shown looking to Foreign Secretary David Lammy for advice, played by Hammed Animashaun.
He says: “Oh golly – what if Donald shouts at me? What do I say, Lammy.”
When Trump calls Starmer immediately hangs up the phone as soon as he says hello.
Starmer adds in the sketch: “Oh sod that scary, scary, wonderful President. Why is he so bloody difficult to talk to?
“I just want to keep him happy.”
In another section of the sketch Lammy brings in a ‘Gen Z advisor, @LilPoopy’ who encourages Starmer to send a voice note, leading to the PM saying: “I’ll do anything, except take a stand.”
The following voice note in the parody sees him ‘stand up’ to Trump over the strait of Hormuz whilst still letting him know they can use any of the UK’s naval bases.
He says: “Hi, Donald. I’m afraid I can’t go to war with you, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be chums.
“America and Britain have a long, proud tradition of cooperation and nothing can take that away.
“Remember the good times. Remember D-Day? Remember Live Aid? Remember Iraq? The first week and none of the rest.”
Trump decided to share the clip without comment, leaving out the second half in which Starmer in the sketch partially stands up to the American President.
This is the latest in a series of shots fired by Trump at Starmer, who he previously said was ‘no Churchill’ regarding his unwillingness to support Israel and America’s ongoing attacks on Iran.
Just a few weeks ago, 8 March, Trump also posted on Truth Social: “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East.
“That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer - But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!"
Despite the potential for controversy following Trump sharing the Keir Starmer sketch, SNL UK has overall been a major success based on the reaction to its first episode.
One tweet said: "The contrived bashing of SNL: UK before it had even aired a second of actual programme was extremely tiresome. stuff like this [a sketch focusing on a team dedicated to making the internet as unusable as possible] is good!! we need more opps for (relatively) unknown comics (particularly those without ££ or connections) and everyone needs to lighten the f*ck up a bit."
Another praised a Weekend Update bit poking fun at influencers stranded in Dubai, saying: "THIS is the spirit that SNL once had and has so desperately needed again for years."
Meanwhile a review from Metro called the show's debut episode an 'astonishing achievement', saying it 'might just mark the beginning of a new era in British comedy'.
Topics: Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, TV and Film, TV, US News, Saturday Night Live
Michael Slavin