'Scary wonderful president, why is he so bloomin' difficult to talk to?': SNL UK debut mocks Starmer’s awkward call with Trump over Iran war
Key Takeaways
- UK SNL cold open shows Prime Minister Starmer telling Trump Britain won't join Iran war.
- George Fouracres portrayed Starmer in disguise during the sketch.
- Set included a dial tone and a framed Trump photo behind Starmer.
Opening cold open setup
The Times of India reports that the UK edition of Saturday Night Live opened with a cold open in which Prime Minister Keir Starmer awkwardly tries to tell US President Donald Trump that Britain would not join a war in Iran.
“The UK version of Saturday Night Live opened its debut episode with a political cold open in classic style, imagining Prime Minister Keir Starmer awkwardly trying to tell US President Donald Trump that Britain wouldn’t join a war in Iran”
Actor George Fouracres plays Starmer in disguise at a desk with a framed photo of Trump behind him, as a dial tone sounds and he frets about how to respond.
An adviser, portrayed by Hammed Animashaun, urges him to just be himself.
Satire on advisers and approach
Starmer is pressed by the adviser to avoid a hostile exchange and to maintain civility.
The Gen Z adviser, played by Jack Shep, nicknames Starmer as Starmzy and boasts about being experienced in messy drama, even claiming he is currently gay.
He suggests switching the plan from a phone call to a voice note.
Voice-note plan and references
In the voice note, Starmer tells Trump that he cannot go to war, but that the two countries can still be allies.
“The UK version of Saturday Night Live opened its debut episode with a political cold open in classic style, imagining Prime Minister Keir Starmer awkwardly trying to tell US President Donald Trump that Britain wouldn’t join a war in Iran”
He references a long tradition of cooperation and recalls historical and pop culture memories, including D-Day, Live Aid, Iraq, and various Friends episodes, before proposing that Trump start a war while Britain keeps access to naval bases.
He also notes that he can offer only a limited partnership and insists that the aim is to avoid war.
Closing gag and framing
The sketch ends with Fouracres, Animashaun and Shep delivering the iconic line that signals the show is live from London.
The article frames the piece as satire of transatlantic relations, highlighting civility and cultural clash rather than moral equivalence, and presenting Starmer as trying to balance alliance and restraint in the face of Trump’s provocations.
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