SNL UK turns Andy Burnham into PM and Oasis into Russian spies
Andy Burnham became prime minister and Oasis became Russian spies in the opening sketch of Saturday Night Live UK on 26 September.
The cold open, meaning the sketch played before the titles, put George Fouracres in Downing Street as Burnham. Celeste Dring appeared alongside him as Angela Rayner, according to Deadline.
The Gallaghers then walked in. Jack Shep played Noel Gallagher and Freddie Meredith played Liam Gallagher. Both were then revealed as two Russian spies.
The joke ran from there. The pair invite Burnham to step in after their guitarist pulled out. Then they ask him to input reams of personal details, a nod to criticism of Oasis's expensive and dynamically priced tickets.
Russian spy Liam claimed Oasis songs were made in a lab by Kremlin scientists. He said Wonderwall is actually Wonderful Wall, about the Berlin Wall. Burnham ends the sketch by ordering the Russian Mancs to leave Britain and go back to being Oasis.
Meredith is new to the show. He joined the cast for series two, meaning the second season, and this episode was his debut. Before SNL UK, he was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award for his Edinburgh Fringe show Need a Light, according to Sky.
The 26 September episode was hosted by Amelia Dimoldenberg, with Rachel Chinouriri as musical guest. She followed Jeff Goldblum and Jamie Demetriou, who hosted the first two episodes of the run. Goldblum opened series two on 12 September with CMAT, while Demetriou hosted on 19 September with Royal Blood.
For fans, this means the British version is settling into the same rhythm as the American original. A topical political sketch up front, a celebrity host, and a live music act to close.
The series airs on Sky One and NOW. It was confirmed in May to return for a second series of 12 episodes, after a first series of eight episodes that premiered on 21 March 2026. It is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio's UK production team and Broadway Video, with Lorne Michaels as executive producer and James Longman as lead producer.
