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The debut episode of “Saturday Night Live UK” aired recently, and it wasted no time in tackling the controversy surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
In the premiere of the Weekend Update segment, hosts Ania Magliano and Paddy Young pulled no punches as they discussed the former prince. Earlier this year, Andrew was arrested on allegations of misconduct in public office after documents related to Jeffrey Epstein surfaced.
Prior to these allegations, Andrew had already faced significant consequences, losing his royal title and being asked to vacate his residence at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Magliano kicked off the segment with a line that drew a strong reaction from the audience: “Coming up on Weekend Update: pedophilia. But first, war!”
After a series of jokes about the situation in Iran, the hosts shifted their focus back to Andrew, who is now set to reside permanently at Marsh Farm on King Charles’ Sandringham Estate.
“Renovations to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s new home, Marsh Farm, have been taking place over the last month, including the installation of Sky TV. So, if you’re watching this Andrew, hello!” Magliano joked. “You’re not gonna like this next bit. Also, I’m older than I look.
“Andrew’s new residence, Marsh Farm, is of course named after the nearby marsh where his body will be found.”
“It was reported this week that the police investigation into Andrew is set to widen,” Young said. “The big question now is, if Andrew is charged, found guilty and put in prison, will he be able to keep his mouth shut? I hope not, said his cellmate’s penis.”
The segment also briefly turned its attention to another high-profile British family: the Beckhams.
“Feuding father and son David and Brooklyn Beckham narrowly missed each other whilst at the same Beverly Hills hotel,” Young began. “The feud began when Victoria was, quote, ‘inappropriately’ close with her son at his wedding, and escalated after Brooklyn accidentally yelled out his wife’s name during sex with his mum.”
The episode marked the UK debut of the long-running American variety show. The British version follows the same structure, with a celebrity host, live sketches, and musical performances.
Ahead of its premiere, the series had already received a vote of confidence from its network, Sky.
Initially planned as a six-episode run, it was expanded to eight 75-minute episodes, with each installment written and rehearsed in the week leading up to its live broadcast.
The first episode was hosted by Tina Fey, who wrote for and starred in the US version between 1997 and 2006. Music for the night came from Wet Leg.
Future episodes are set to feature hosts including Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed, with musical guests Wolf Alice and Kasabian.
Alongside Weekend Update hosts Magliano and Young, the show’s main cast is made up of Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep and Emma Sidi.
When the show was announced, a press release teased what’s to come from the series, saying, “Together, this first wave of hosts, musical guests and cast members marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for the globally acclaimed ‘SNL’ franchise — blending its storied legacy with a fresh generation of British comedy voices.”