Jeff Goldblum Hosts ‘SNL U.K.’ Season 2 Premiere; Cold Open Skewers Harry and Meghan

Goldblum’s Jazz-Piano Monologue Opens the London Premiere

Jeff Goldblum hosted the Season 2 premiere of "Saturday Night Live U.K.," airing from London, and opened with a jazz-piano performance that wove in British cultural touchstones. Addressing the live audience, Goldblum said, "Can you believe this is Saturday night, first of all?" and announced that he was hosting the "triumphant second season first episode" before performing an original song at the piano. The lyrics included the lines, "I'm hoping to be your precise cup of tea and that you'll like me more than Nando's or Marmite" and "even if I still bomb, I will keep calm and carry on because I'm hosting from London tonight." Musical guest CMAT joined the number on stage, holding cue cards reading "Life Finds a Way" — a reference to Goldblum's "Jurassic Park" line — as he concluded with, "Life finds a way, when you're live on Saturday. Like Sainsbury's Local, we're all feeling vocal."

Cold Open Targets Harry and Meghan’s U.K. Return

The episode's cold open satirized Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent return to the United Kingdom. Jack Shep and Ayoade Bamgboye played the Duke and Duchess visiting King Charles III (Larry Dean) and Queen Camilla (Emma Sidi) at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Charles asked incredulously, "Don't tell me you've spent all your Netflix money already," and when Harry replied that the deal was "$60 million," the king demanded, "How long was it meant to last?" Camilla greeted Meghan by saying, "Hello, sweet Harry. And beautiful Meghan, as brown as ever," a line framed as a callback to the Sussexes' interview with Oprah Winfrey about concerns over their son Archie's skin color. Meghan's response — "Hey Step Queen. I brought you a gift … It's ice. I made it myself" — was presented as a reference to her Netflix lifestyle series.

A Fictional Prime Minister Interrupts the Reunion

The Balmoral sketch was interrupted by a new Prime Minister character portrayed by George Fouracres, described as wearing his signature yellow Manchester badge. The PM introduced himself by saying, "I'm the new PM, and I'm nothing like the last one," before addressing the Sussexes: "Harry, Megan [sic], I'm here to tell you that just because you're normal folk doesn't mean your life has to be crap. That is the Burnham promise." The segment closed with the PM offering to buy the nation a beer, and Deadline characterized the appearance as placing the Burnham figure in 10 Downing Street.

Returning Cast and Upcoming Guest Hosts

All "SNL U.K." cast members from Season 1 returned for the premiere, including Hammed Animashaun, Bamgboye, Dean, Celeste Dring, Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Shep, Sidi and Paddy Young, with Freddie Meredith making his debut as a new addition. Deadline reported that Season 2 will run for six episodes before a break and a return in early 2027. "Chicken Shop Date" host Amelia Dimoldenberg will guest-present the second episode, with "Stath Lets Flats" creator Jamie Demetriou hosting the third.

A ‘Weekend Update’ Dig at Trump and the Show’s Production Base

A separate "Weekend Update" segment tied to the premiere took aim at Donald Trump's "new hair," according to a Variety headline on the episode; the outlet also noted that contributor Paddy Young said the punchline had been "taken from me by our legal team." "SNL U.K." is produced as a Sky series; a Variety image credit on the host's opening segment identified the broadcast as airing on Sky. The premiere was taped in London, with Deadline's reporting centered on the U.K. edition as distinct from the long-running American "Saturday Night Live" on NBC.