Riz Ahmed Takes Aim at British During Opening Monologue on ‘Saturday Night Live U.K.’: ‘We Like It When Things Are a Little Bit Crap’
Why it matters: The new "Saturday Night Live U.K." series, set for eight episodes, continues to blend local humor with global satire.
- Riz Ahmed hosted "Saturday Night Live U.K." on April 4, using his monologue to satirize British culture, claiming the nation is united by its appreciation for things being "a little bit crap."
- Ahmed referenced his diverse career, from "Sound of Metal" to "Four Lions," and his current role in "Bait," noting his own identity crisis as a Wembley-raised, Oxford-educated individual who sounds like "a mix between Stormzy and Rishi Sunak."
- Sketches during the show included one mocking contestants on the British version of "The Traitors" for repeatedly eliminating people of color.
- Variety reported that "SNL U.K.'s" Weekend Update segment took aim at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, while Deadline noted Michael Che's comments on Trump attending a Broadway show, suggesting a broader scope of political and social satire across the "SNL" franchise.
- The first season of "SNL U.K." kicked off on March 21 with Tina Fey and Wet Leg, and will feature Jack Whitehall and Jorja Smith on April 11, running for eight episodes with a brief hiatus.
Riz Ahmed, hosting "Saturday Night Live U.K.," delivered a self-deprecating yet pointed monologue, declaring that what unites Britons is their love for things being "a little bit crap," a sentiment he wove through observations on British compliments, sports, and gift-giving. While Ahmed's segment focused on British identity, other "SNL U.K." segments, as reported by Variety and Deadline, tackled broader social commentary, including jabs at Mark Zuckerberg and former President Trump.
