Saturday Night Live UK didn’t pull any political punches as it returned from its weekend off last night – mocking Sir Keir Starmer’s appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the U.S.
It comes after The Independent revealed last week that Mandelson had failed the vetting process before being given the role, with the prime minister insisting that he and his ministers were not aware of this until recently. Mandelson was sacked months after his appointment over his links to Jeffrey Epstein and is currently facing a police inquiry over claims that he leaked sensitive government documents to the child sex offender while in his role as business secretary.
In light of the recent Starmer drama, Saturday Night Live UK’s show on Saturday (25 April) opened with a parody of ITV’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, renaming it to Who Wants To Remain A Millionaire with the prime minister becoming a contestant.
Al Nash played the role of former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who wasn’t spared by the show’s comedy writers.
“I’m your host, fake farmer and real arsehole Jeremy Clarkson,” he said. “Let’s bring out our contestant for the night. You hate him, I hate him – it’s prime minister Keir Starmer.”
George Fouracres reprised his role as Starmer from previous episodes, with his bumbling caricature of the prime minister being asked the question, “is it ever a good idea to give Peter Mandelson a job?” Reading out the multiple choice answers, Clarkson said: “A. No. B. Of Course Not. C. Not In A Million Years. D. Yes.”
“It’s a tricky one, Jeremy,” Starmer replied. “I think I’m going to have to use a lifeline on this one, I’ll ask the audience.”
While the results were overwhelming in favour of C, Starmer asked to use the 50-50 lifeline and when that left just C and D, he chose to phone a friend – Peter Mandelson, described as a “paedophile-adjacent Bond villain” by Nash’s Clarkson.
SNL UK star Larry Dean played the role of Mandelson, who was shown in a white robe bearing the initials “J.R” – referencing the photographs of Mandelson found in the Epstein files of him in the same attire while in the paedophile’s company.
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Starmer asked Mandelson whether it’s ever a good idea to give him a job, with Mandelson responding: “Me? A job? I’d be careful if I were you,” before laughing villainously as the lighting turned red.
Despite being given the chance to use the 50:50 lifeline again and being left with C, Starmer said: “I know it’s not conventional but I’d actually like to bring back one of the previous options because I’m going to go with D – final answer.”
When asked whether he’s sure, Starmer said: “Oh, never.” Unsurprisingly, it’s revealed to be the wrong answer, with Starmer telling Clarkson: “Jeremy, it’s clear to me now that that was the wrong decision. Would I make the same decision again, knowing what I know now? Quite possibly.”
The Independent has reached out to the Cabinet Office, Peter Mandelson and Jeremy Clarkson for comment.
The clip has found fans on social media, with one viewer writing on X: “george fouracres is a better keir starmer than keir starmer is.”
While another tweeted: “starmer’s even getting rinsed on tv now. when the jokes write themselves, you know the government’s a mess.”
The show poked fun at the story later on in the show, with Weekend Update co-host Paddy Young saying: “As a result of the Mandelson fallout, civil servant Olly Robbins has been sakced. No! Not Olly Robins! Sir Oliver Robins, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs in the United Kingdom! Who’s that?”
Earlier in April, Starmer sacked Robbins for failing to tell him that Mandelson had failed vetting for the role of ambassador to the US. Starmer stood by his decision to fire him this week, saying that the former Foreign Office chief only faced the “everyday pressure of Government” during the vetting process.
