Peter Serafinowicz played Nigel Farage as the Prime Minister in a sketch set in 2046 on SNL UK – watch below.
The Sky One show took aim at the Reform UK leader in the days following the UK local elections this week, depicting a scene in Downing Street 20 years in the future, when Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch have merged their parties and have been in power for a long period of time.
Serafinowicz made his debut as Farage in the sketch, making fun of politician’s knack of being hoaxed by pranksters on Cameo, before downing a pint. He is then joined by Ayoade Bamgboye’s Badenoch – now the Deputy Prime Minister – and together they celebrate getting the population of London “down to single figures”.
Farage then kisses a newspaper front page depicting “King Trump”, who has “almost negotiated a ceasefire over the Strait of Hormuz”, and they depart to attend a “straight Pride parade”.
In walks George Fouracres’ Keir Starmer and Celeste Dring’s Angela Rayner, who have arrived via a time machine. They note from the newspaper that “SNL UK has been renewed…for series three”, to which Rayner quips, “series two must have been rough”.
They go on to discuss Starmer doing “the honourable thing” after the disastrous local election results, before Winston Churchill (Al Nash) arrives through the time machine to bring the cold open to a close.
Watch here:
Saturday Night Live UK was indeed renewed for a second series this week, with the eighth and final episode of its well-received first run set to arrive next week (May 16). There will be a 12-episode run starting in September, with Lorne Michaels continuing to serve as executive producer.
Last night’s episode was hosted by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, while the musical guest was Myles Smith. Next week’s season finale will feature host Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who), and music from Holly Humberstone.
Despite initial mixed reviews, SNL UK has proved a success for the Sky, and it has made headlines by satirising several recent news headlines such as a speech by US First Lady Melania Trump and the Kanye West Wireless controversy.
Guest Aimee Lou Wood also got some closure hosting an episode of the show, following a falling out with the American version for a sketch which she called “cruel and unfunny”.
This week’s elections saw Reform UK take over 1400 council seats and seize control of 14 councils, while Starmer’s Labour suffered heavy losses. In Scotland, the SNP held off Labour to remain the largest party, while in Wales, Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party in the Senedd as Labour was reduced to third place.