Saturday Night Live UK’s cold open mocked Andy Burnham’s Gogglebox appearance, parodying The Celebrity Traitors
and Prince William’s Graham Norton Show interview on October 24, 2026.
Saturday Night Live UK’s cold open delivered a sharp satire of British television and politics, mocking Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s recent appearance on Celebrity Gogglebox while skewering popular shows like The Celebrity Traitors and The Graham Norton Show. This week’s episode of Saturday Night Live UK was hosted by Cynthia Erivo, with musical guest Blossoms, according to sources.
Cold Open Jabs at Burnham’s Gogglebox Appearance
The cold open featured a futuristic twist, with Paddy Young as future PM Burnham
warning his present-day counterpart about a cyberattack. Tell the country to buy an extra can of beans,
Young’s Burnham urged, a reference to the prime minister’s real-life emphasis on emergency preparedness. The joke highlighted the show's mix of political satire and pop culture parody. The sketch also included a segment where Burnham “from the future” praised the show’s impression of Rotheram, saying, I loved it when they did that impression of you on 'SNL U.K.'
Parodies of Major British Shows
SNL UK’s sketch also mocked The Celebrity Traitors, with Celeste Dring impersonating host Claudia Winkleman. What happens when we take 22 celebrities who are too famous to play the game seriously, or care whether or not they win, and put them in a castle? The answer: not much to be honest,
Dring’s Winkleman said, capturing the show’s chaotic energy. The segment referenced the show’s format, where celebrities compete in a castle with little motivation to win, a concept the sketch humorously exaggerated.
Prince William’s Graham Norton Show Mockery
The cold open also parodied Prince William’s surprise appearance on The Graham Norton Show, where he discussed his love for Christopher Nolan movies and The Celebrity Traitors. Jack Shep portrayed Norton, asking Freddie Meredith’s William, Is it true that your brother Harry has reached out this week?
Meredith’s William replied, “Shut up!”—a direct quote from the sketch.
The sketch emphasized the contrast between William’s public persona and the absurdity of the question, a common theme in SNL UK’s satire. The segment also referenced William’s discussion of The Celebrity Traitors, a show he had previously promoted, as noted in the cold open. The portrayal of the Graham Norton Show included a mock interview where William’s reaction to the question about Harry underscored the show’s blend of celebrity gossip and humor.
The cold open concluded with a meta-joke about the show’s own content, as Young’s future Burnham praised the sketch’s impression of Rotheram. The segment reflected SNL UK’s tradition of self-referential humor, where the show frequently comments on its own parodies. This approach aligns with the show’s reputation for blending current events with comedic exaggeration, as seen in its coverage of political figures and cultural phenomena.
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